Since the demise of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in
1991, a large part of the experience, expertise and specific knowledge on sturgeon hatchery
practices and management in the Caspian Sea Basin has disappeared, while research and
knowledge on sturgeon and hatchery practices in other regions have advanced rapidly in the
last few decades.
Sturgeon restocking practices that resulted in limited success have caused a critical
reassessment of the entire culture process, the strategies applied for conservation culture, the
design of rehabilitation programmes, the design of hatcheries and the mode of their operation.
This technical paper aims to increase global awareness and to guide and build capacity about
the best practices currently available by providing senior and mid-level sturgeon hatchery staff
with a practical tool for modern sturgeon hatchery practices and management. The technical
technical guidelines it contains focus on hatchery practices that are aimed at reproduction and
growth of fry and fingerlings for restocking objectives.
The technical guidelines address a wide range of issues, including: hatchery design and
location; collection and transportation of wild broodstock; selection and maintenance of
broodstock; tagging of sturgeon; water quality and supply; feeding and feed quality; selection
of broodstock for controlled reproduction; spawning and gamete processing; rearing of larvae
and juveniles in tanks; rearing of juveniles in ponds; release of fingerlings; sanitary and hygiene
measures; hatchery documentation; hatchery maintenance and repair; staff and labour issues;
monitoring and research; social and environmental responsibility; international regulations
and conventions on sturgeons; and implementation and updating of these technical guidelines.
This technical paper provides specific technical guidelines, justifications for these
technical guidelines and suggestions to support their implementation. The guidance provided
is based on the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (1995) and contributes to
the implementation of the Ramsar Declaration on Global Sturgeon Conservation (2006).
As
such, the technical guidelines in this paper are part of the capacity-building and awarenessraising efforts of the partners involved in their preparation in order to increase the success of sturgeon hatchery practices for release purposes. These partners include: FAO; World Sturgeon
Conservation Society; International Union for Conservation of Nature; Caspian Environment
Programme; United Nations Development Programme; 6th International Symposium on
Sturgeon; World Bank; Institute of Hydroecology; and Central Asia and Caucasus Regional
Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission.
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Further ReadingYou can view the full report by clicking here. |
