Assessment of Four Major Fish Species Stocks in the Lithuanian and Russian Parts of Curonian Lagoon (SE Baltic Sea) Using CMSY Method

Fisheries in the Curonian Lagoon (1584 km2 coastal lagoon in South-east Baltic) can be classified as artisanal, small-scale, multi-species, and multi-gear. Such types of fisheries are characterised as data-poor and require appropriate investigation methods. We used CMSY (version CMSY_2019_9f. R) to assess maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and related indicators for freshwater bream, roach, pike-perch, and European perch. A decline in pike-perch and roach was identified, while the stocks of freshwater bream and European perch were sustained. As the CMSY model does not consider the impact of environmental factors, the decline in roach stock may be attributed to the increase in salinity rather than to overfishing. In the case of freshwater bream and pike-perch, the method cannot consider the increase of the percentage of small-sized fishes in catches due to the allowance of low-selectivity gears in the fishery. Additionally, in the case of the pike-perch, the model does not take into account the interannual fluctuations in the stock-recruitment system. The assessment of the European perch stock can be considered to be good. However, the accuracy of CMSY is limited, and it should be used for fisheries management only in combination with other methods.

Fish helminths in reservoirs of the Zarafshan river

The results of the study of the helminth fauna of 8 species fish of the lower reaches reservoirs of the Zarafshan River are presented - carp (Cyprinus carpio), crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), roach (Rutilus rutilus), oriental bream (Abramis brama), pike perch (Stizostedion lucioperca), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), pike (Esox lucius), Turkestan barbel (Barbus capito conocephalus). 27 species of helminths were identified, including 12 species of cestodes (Caryophyllaeus laticeps Pallas, 1781; Caryophyllaeus fimbriceps Annenkova - Chlopina, 1919; Biacetabulum appendiculatum Szidat, 1937; Khawia sinensis Hsu, 1935; Bathybothrium rectangulum Bloch, 1782; Bothriocephalus opsariichthydis Yamaguti, 1934; Ligula intestinalis Linnaeus, 1758 larvae; Digramma interupta Rudolphi, 1810 larvae; Proteocephalus torulosus Batsch, 1786; Neogryporhynchus cheilanoristrotus Wedl, 1855 larvae; Gryporhynchus pusillus von Nordman, 1832 larvae; Valipora campylancristrota Rudolphi, 1819 larvae), 5 species of trematodes (Sanguinicola inermis Plehn, 1905; Orientocreadium siluri Bychowsky et Dubinina, 1954; Allocreadium isoporum Looss, 1894; Diplostomum spathaceum Rudolvae, 1832 lare; (Dioctophyme renale Goeze, 1782 larvae; Rhabdochona denudata Dujardin, 1845; Desmidocercella numidica Seurat, 1920 larvae; Camallanus truncatus Rudolphi, 1814; Camallanus lacustris Zoega, 1776; Philometra ovatachenko Zeder, 1803; 1779 larvae) and 2 species of acanthocephalus (Pomphorhynchus laevis Muller, 1776; Acantocephalus lucii Muller, 1776). This work includes the results of the research of the helminthes of the fish of waterbodies in the lowers of the Zarafshan River. As a result, the infection of fish with 27 species of helminthes, belonging to cestodes (12), trematodes (5), nematodes (8), and acanthocephalans (2) was established.

STATE OF FISHERIES IN SOUTH REGION OF VOLGO-CASPIAN FISHERIES BASIN

The paper presents the generalized materials on the current state of fisheries in the Northern part of the Caspian Sea (southern region of the Volga-Caspian fisheries basin). It is shown that catches in the North-Western and Tersk-Caspian subdistricts varied in the opposite way: an increase in production in one subdistrict was accompanied by a decrease in the other. The decreasing or increasing catches is due to semi-anadromous (roach, brim, zander, carp) and freshwaterfish species (cat-fish, pike-perch, small size ordinary fish). There have been found the significant relationships between the size of catches in the North-Western and Tersk-Caspian subdistricts with the annual runoff and the volume of spring flooding of the Volga river, which allows to conclude that fish resources are redistributed between these regions depending on the natural conditions of a particular year. In order to more fully develop the fish resources of the southern region of the Volga-Caspian fisheries basin, it is recommended to abandon the division of quotas into parts for the North-Western and Tersk-Caspian subdistricts and to allow the fishing organizations to work at the expense of the total allowable catch

Fauna of parasite of cyprinids and percoids in the reservoirs of the Moscow Canal

The purpose of the research is determination of the species composition of parasites of cyprinid and percoid fish in the reservoirs of the Moscow Canal.Materials and methods. In 2019–2020, parasitological material was collected in the spring, summer and autumn from percoid (the pike perch and European perch) and cyprinid fish (the bream, silver bream, roach, rudd and sabrefish) aged 2 to 7 years from the reservoirs of the Moscow Canal (Ikshinsky, Pestovsky, Pyalovsky and Klyazminsky Reservoirs) by the methods generally accepted in ichthyo-parasitology. To quantify the fish infection rate, we used the incidence or prevalence of infection, the intensity of infection, and the mean amplitude of the intensity of infection. We used Kabiosh index (K) to assess the species diversity of parasites. Results and discussion. The parasitological analysis results of percoids and cyprinids from the reservoirs of the Moscow Canal are presented. 34 parasite species were found in fish, which belong to nine taxonomic groups: Microsporidia, Myxosporea, Monogenea, Cestoda, Trematoda, Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Hirudinea, Crustacea. The largest number of species belongs to trematodes, the rest, taxa (mixo- and microsporidia, cestodes, nematodes, acanthocephalans, leeches and parasitic crustaceans), are represented singly. We calculated the species diversity ratio (R) of fish parasites in the reservoirs, which ranged from 0.335 to 0.575, which indicates the fauna similarity from 50 to 75%. The greatest similarity in the parasite fauna was found in the roach (R = 0.168–0.447), the least in the European perch (R = 0.447–1.0). We have identified the dominant species that are found in more than 20% of the studied fish and determine the “core” of the parasitic fauna, which included 4 parasite species of epizootic and 1 parasite species of epidemiological significance.

Pike-Perch (Sander lucioperca) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fed with an Alternative Microorganism Mix for Reducing Fish Meal and Oil—Fishes’ Growth Performances and Quality Traits

In the last decades, several plant-based materials were used for the substitution of fish meal and oil in aquaculture. The present study evaluated the fish quality and the sensory differences of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) from three different feeding groups, which were fed a commercially available industrial (standard) diet, a control diet, and a special microorganism-based feed mix. This feed mainly consisted of a mix made of Rhodotorula glutinis, Crypthecodinium cohnii, and Arthrospira sp. and had 50% less fish meal and fish oil compared to typical control diets. At the beginning, the pike-perch population was six months old, and the rainbow trout population was 15 months old. The feeding study duration was 16 weeks and every four weeks the growth performance and several morphometric parameters were recorded. Afterwards, sensory evaluation took place to identify possible trends. Sensory evaluation revealed that the rainbow trout groups did not show any significant differences to the standard and control fish fillets with regard to odor, texture, and taste. The effects on rainbow trout growth performances and carcass parameters were similar to the standard group. The feed mix was not optimal for pike-perch farming, which was also reflected by significantly adversely affected growth performance and carcass parameters. The sensorial evaluation showed an opposite trend: here, only small differences in the fillets from the feed mix and standard/control diet were observed.

Comparative characteristics of the conditions for harvesting, transportation and spawning of pike perch in fish farms in Kazakhstan

A description of biotechnical methods of harvesting pike perch in natural reservoirs, methods of catching pike perch spawners, keeping in adaptation cages and transporting pike perch from fishing sites to the farm is given. Pike perch breeders were caught from the reservoirs with fixed and floating nets during the period: in the Kapshagai reservoir from 10 to 20 April; in the Syrdarya river — from April 20 to May 5. The adaptation was carried out in cages located in the coastal zone. Transportation to the fish farm was carried out in live fish tanks with a volume of 1 and 3 m³ with water aeration. The reproduction of pike perch was carried out in two fish farms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The data on spawning of pike perch in two ways are given: in cages on nests; as well as the receipt of reproduction products by the factory method from “flowing” producers. In the first case, females and males were placed in cages in a ratio of 1:1 and 1:2; a spawning nest was installed in each cage and spawning was monitored. In the second case, from the “flowing” pike perch breeders ready for spawning, reproductive products (eggs and sperm) were obtained, fertilization and degluing were carried out with a suspension of white clay. The monitoring of hydrochemical indicators was constantly carried out, the dates of the beginning and end of spawning of pike perch were determined. The article presents the fish-breeding and biological characteristics of pike perch producers participating in spawning. The mass of spawned pike perch females in LLP “Halyk Balyk” ranged from 2 kg to 2.5 kg, males — 1.5–2.5 kg; females weighing 2.1–2.6 kg were used in the Republican State Enterprise “Kamyshly-Bashsky Fish Hatchery”; males — from 1.2 kg to 2.4 kg. Based on the results of the research, biotechnical standards were developed for the preparation of pike perch producers in water bodies, for transportation to fish farms, standards for spawning of pike perch in various ways.

Efficiency of Sonar Fish Protection Device at the Kokaral Dam of the Small Aral Sea

The study aimed to assess the efficiency of the pilot hydro-acoustic (sonar) fish protection device (SFPD) installed at the Kokaral Dam of the Small Aral Sea. For this purpose, between August 27 and September 5, 2020 experimental and control fish catching was carried out using fixed fishing nets (30×60 mm mesh). The SFPD’s effectiveness was assessed based on the amount and species diversity of the caught fish with and without the SFPD operating. Fish behavior and distribution were monitored using an echo sounder. In terms of quantity, 173 fish were caught with the SFPD off, and 94 with the SFPD on. In terms of biomass, the values were 37.5 kg and 27.6 kg, respectively. With the SFPD off, the ichthyofauna composition was represented by 12 fish species: carp, crucian carp, roach, ide, bream, common rudd, saber carp, snakehead, pike perch, perch, pike, and asp. With the SFPD on, roach and ide were absent in the catch, and the quantity of common rudd significantly decreased. In both catches, the quantity of carp and crucian carp was similar; bream and saber carp specimen were sporadic. The number of predatory fish (pike, perch, snakeheads, and pike perch) in the catches increased. Asp was absent in the net catches also; however, this fish species represents the main object of amateur hook and line fishing. Based on the catch-per-effort unit, it can be concluded that whereas the SFPD observed efficiency for small non-predatory fish like ide, roach, and common rudd was 95%, it was 0% for large non-predatory fish (carp and crucian carp); and negative for predatory fish.

ON USING VOLGA-CASPIAN ZANDER’S CHEEKS IN PRODUCTION OF CANNED FISH BABY FOOD

The article considers the purpose of the research as defining the possibility of using recycled fish raw material (zander’s cheeks and fat) in production of canned fish baby food. The components of the developed pasteurized canned fish “Sudachok” (heads and cheeks of pike perch, blanched carrots, oatmeal or buckwheat flour, fat from zander’s intestine, concentrated fish broth prepared from zander’s head and vertebral bones) were tested for the concentration of fat, protein, carbohydrates; zander’s muscle tissue - for the concentration of essential amino acids. It was determined that zander’s cheeks make up 4.4 - 8.8% of head’s mass, they being high-protein tissue (protein content is more than 19%), low-fat (fat content is 0.7%) secondary raw material and contain non-protein nitrogen (NPN), where formol and titrate nitrogen (FTN) and volatile bases nitrogen (VBN) are 370.5, 39.3 and 8.0 mg/100g, respectively. Formulations were developed and the pasteurized fish cans for babies were produced using zander’s cheeks and vegetable components (carrots, oatmeal flour, or buckwheat flour), fat and concentrated broth from boiling zander’s head bones. The composition has an optimized protein and fat content. In terms of quality, the pilot samples of canned fish with the corrected number of individual components of the recipe were found to meet the requirements of All-Union State Standard 29276 “Canned fish for baby food”.

A nitrogen factor for European pike-perch (Sander lucioperca), northern pike (Esox lucius), and sheatfish (Silurus glanis) fillets

Measures for consumer protection against food adulteration and misleading labeling are integrated into EU legislation, including methods for detection of misleading practices. Verification of meat content is available for marine products but not for freshwater fish because of the lack of standard nitrogen factors. The aim of this study was to establish nitrogen factors for European pike-perch Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758), northern pike Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758, and sheatfish Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758. The study involved analysis of 808 fillet samples obtained in spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November) harvest seasons, 2018–2019, from seven Czech Republic fish rearing facilities. Samples with and without skin were analyzed for nitrogen content, dry matter, protein, ash, and fat according to established ISO methods. The recommended nitrogen factor for European pike-perch with the skin is 3.28 ± 0.09 and without the skin is 3.21 ± 0.09; for northern pike with the skin is 3.18 ± 0.09 and without skin is 3.15 ± 0.09; and for sheatfish with skin is 2.73 ± 0.13 and without skin is 2.75 ± 0.12. The established nitrogen factors will enable analysis of meat content to ensure that consumers are purchasing correctly described and labeled fish products.