The 10th International Symposium on Sturgeon (ISS10)

Every year, a large number of natural breeders of sturgeon fish killed during artificial reproduction due to reason of their inability to adapt to nutrition in breeding conditions. A total of 4 (2 females + 2 males) wild Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) caught from the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea and transferred to artificial reproduction center (Iran) in 2017. The micro incision of oviduct was used for artificial reproduction. After propagation, fish were transferred to a 20-ton fiberglass tank equipped with hole and river water supply and aeration systems and fed with different diets such as a diet inspired by nature, a wet food composition containing 49% protein, 14% fat, 20% carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, nutrient absorbents, and commercial concentrate. Based on results, a wild female and male A. persicus showed a significant increase in somatic growth and gonadic development. The trend of somatic growth (weight) of fish decreased until adaptation to feeding in reared conditions (6 months – 1 years), and then it increased gradually. So that the body weight of one of female fish from 20 kg at the beginning reached to 34 kg at the end. In gonadal growth, 1 female + 1 male breeder matured again during 3.5 years for second time and matured sexually again after 2 years (for third time). The diameters of the eggs were 2.9 mm and 3.2 mm in the second and the third times, respectively. The female breeder was injected using LHRH_A2 hormone again, and due to the sudden increase in temperature, the eggs did not ovulate. From a male A. persicus, 200 ml of high quality sperm with a motility rate of 85% were obtained after 2 years. In general, according to the results, the biotechnique of maintaining natural sturgeon has been obtained and recommended to avoid killing them.
 

wild sturgeon, brood stocking, adaptation, rearing conditions, Acipenser persicus,