Morphofunctional assessment of domesticated and aquacultured beluga females

Abstract

In the early 80-ies of the last century, there was a sharp decline in the population of the Caspian beluga in Russia. Its fishing was prohibited, except for catching for reproduction and scientific purposes. In the practice of sturgeon breeding, the method of repeated use of sturgeon females and males by obtaining sexual products in vivo, as well as growing breeders in artificial conditions, has become widely put into practice. Against the background of an acute shortage of wild breeders of this sturgeon species, in recent years, the main way to form sturgeon broodstock in the conditions of the Lower Volga region is domestication. However, in recent years, the catches of wild beluga females in the fishing areas of the Lower Volga are estimated as single specimens. The article studies the fish-breeding, biological and physiological parameters of domesticated and aquaculture-bred beluga females. The reproductive function of domesticated and artificially raised beluga females is evaluated. Some proposals for the intensification and priority areas of artificial reproduction in order to replenish natural populations are presented.