Age, growth and mortality of the Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, in the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

The age and growth of the Persian Sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, obtained from the Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea, were studied through analysis of the pectoral fin ray section from 180 specimens, ranging in fork length (FL) from 66 to 203 cm. The specimens were obtained from commercial fisheries between October 2008 and June 2010. Interpretation of growth bands in the pectoral fin ray sections was carried out objectively using the direct reading of thin sections and image analysis. The maximum age recorded in this study for the spacimens of Persian Sturgeon was 39 years. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated for females were greater than for males. The estimates of asymptotic length (L∞) and growth coefficient (K) of females were 173.07 cm and 0.1 year -1, respectively and for males 164.33 cm L∞ and 0.08 year -1 K respectively,. Total mortality coefficient (Z) for females and males was estimated to be 0.45 and 0.76 year -1, respectively. This study revealed differences in life history parameters of the Persian Sturgeon compared with those of previous studies, which may be associated with the current increased fishing pressure and degradation of environmental conditions

Growth performance and age composition of Salmo trutta caspius in Iranian part of Caspian Sea

The aim of this project is to study the growth and age structure in the Caspian trout, comparison with other coldwater species and check the trend of these parameters in recent years. This study was conducted during 2013 till 2015. Totally, 43 specimens for back calculation and 101 specimens for biometrical study of the Caspian trout have been caught in two month period. Biometric parameters such as length, weight and age of the fish were recorded. Base on Back calculation method in 1393, the average length of fish at ages 1, 2 and 3 years old were 18.98 ± 3.5, 30.5 ± 7.24 and 41.7 ± 9.1 cm. So these age groups are under the adult age and don’t approaching to near the beach and rivers for spawning behavior. Therefore, these length groups cannot be observed in catch composition. The result showed, the mean of gonad weight in this fish was about 11 percent of total weight and number of eggs per gram of gonad calculated about 10.8 numbers. Minimum age and maximum age of this species determined 4 years and 7 years (mean = 5.6) and the most frequency allocated to 5 age group and the frequency of 6 and 7 years has been remarkable. The average length of salmon was 69.2 ± 6.2 cm (minimum 57 and maximum 81 cm) and the average weight was measured 3323 ± 677 g (2400 to 5600 g) in the catch composition. Growth parameters such as k, L_∞ and ø’ was measured 0.18, 104 cm and 3.289 respectively. The amount of b for relation length and weight was 2.9 which imply negative allometry. L_∞ and growth coefficient (K) on the Caspian trout were acceptable range, that it shows good growth the fish in the sea water. Most of the fishes were catched from Cheshmehkileh River. As at present Shilat uses just the broods of the Tonekaboon region for restocking of this species, we recommend using the broods of the western region separately for rehabilitation of the stocks of this region

Determination of optimum dosage of Ovaprim injectionon artificial spawning efficiency of Esox lucius

This project was conducted to goal of optimum dosage determination of ovaprim injection to artificial spawning efficiency of Esox lucius. The research implemented by 4 treatments with 3 replicates for each ones. 3 female and 6 male brooders injected in each replicate. The animals in 1, 2 and 3 treatments injected by 10, 20 and 30 µg/kg BW, respectively, and 4th treatment as a control injected with 4 mg/kg BW pituitary gland extract. Average weight of brooders were 1361±521, 1376±954, 1009±160 and 1100 ±422 g in 1, 2, 3 and 4 treatments in females and 689±145, 734±197, 547±118 and 794±238 g in males, respectively. In addition, positive response percent to hormone injection were measured 77.8 ±19.24 , 88.9 ± 19.24 , 55.5 ±50.91 and 55.5 ± 19.24 % in 1, 2, 3 and 4 treatments in female and 94.4 ± 9.58, 88.9 ±19.26 , 83.3±28.86 and 88.9 ± 19.26 % in male brooders, respectively, but there was no significant different between all of treatments (p<0.05). Incubation period from fertilization till hatching step in 7 to 15 ˚C was 5 to 10 days with average of 7±1.5 days. Fertilization content was in 1 to 4 treatments measured 87.1±10, 88.04±7.7, 83.9±5.2 and 72.4±19.7 %, respectively and also the treatments didn’t show any different significantly together (p<0.05). Average percentage of eyed eggs 66.6±15.9 in treat 1, 61.2±22.3 in treat 2, 58.3±10.7 in treat 3 and 56.1±15.04 in treat 4, without any significant different between of them (p<0.05). Hatching of eggs mean were measured 27.41±19.8 in treat 1, 39.53±26.9 in treat 2, 95.18±5.6 in treat 3 and 26.78±12.4 in treat 4, and significant different observed between of them too (p<0.05).In the other hand, mean percent of larvae with active feeding in these treatments were measured 18.77±14.6, 20.1±8.51, 55.6±11.6 and 14.51±7.72 as the treatments had significant different (p<0.05). Also, the best temperature and dosage injection of ovaprim hormone was 9 to 12.5 ˚C and 20µg/kg BW, respectively. The end of trial, from 103740 larvae introduced to earthen pond obtained 8000 fingerlings with weight of 2.68±0.6 g and length of 6.96±0.51 cm

Stock assessment of the bony fishes in Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea (2007-2010)

In the years 2007-2007, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 the exploitation of bony fishes resources (by 131 beach seines) started on 12 October but finished on 9 April, 9 April and 13 April, respectively. During these periods the total catch of bony fishes were 23537.8, 20045.5 and 18664.8 tonnes, respevtively. During these periods, kutum predominated and represented the highest proportion of total catch at 73.1, 74.0 and 66.9% , followed by golden grey mullet at 18.3, 13.9 and 18.7%, respectively. K values calculated 0.22, 0.15 and 0.14 year-1 and L∞ were 66.0, 62.7 and 70.0 cm for kuttum, golden grey mullet and common carp, respectively. The instantaneous coefficient natural mortality were estimated as 0.386 and 0.35 year-1 for kutum and golden grey mullet, respectively. During three periods, the exploitation rates were 0.789, 0.584 and 0.614 for kutum and 0.71, 0.75 and 0.61 for golden grey mullet, respectively. In the years 2007-2007, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, the total biomass, from the biomass-based cohort analysis were 56600, 62090 and 61590 tonnes for kutum and and MSY estimated about 24733.7 and 8550.4 tones for kuttum and 11040, 11900 and 14460 tonnes for golden grey mullet, respectively. The ABC (acceptable biological catch) were estimated as 8000 and 2200 tonnes