Laboratory Cultivation of Coregonus ussuriensis Berg: A Comprehensive Study on Rearing from Egg to Adult Stage

Abstract

Conservation aquaculture aids in restoring and rebuilding populations of endangered species through artificial breeding. The Ussuri cisco (Coregonus ussuriensis Berg) is a valuable fish species in China, known for its high nutritional value. However, its current yield heavily relies on fishing, leading to a rapid decline in wild populations. This study documents the successful artificial breeding of C. ussuriensis and provides a comprehensive description of its life cycle. We performed in situ gamete stripping followed by manual fertilization. Fertilized eggs were incubated at the Bohai cold-water fish experimental station in Mudanjiang, China, where seed breeding and parental fish farming were conducted. Under controlled conditions, we obtained around 110,000 fertilized eggs. After a 2-month incubation period, we obtained around 50,000 oviparous eggs with an eyed rate of 45.5%. Additionally, we observed over 30,000 larvae with a hatching rate of 60%. We produced 20,000 juvenile fish weighing 30 g after 1 year. This procedure facilitates the successful completion of the C. ussuriensis life cycle in aquaculture, aiding in the species’ recovery.