Present Status of Fish Culture Development Project in the Black Sea under JICA Program

Abstract

Since April 1997, a collaborative project between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Central Fisheries Research Institute in Trabzon has been working for the sustainable seed production of Black Sea turbot, Psetta maxima. Through this project, 8,000 fish juveniles were produced in 1998, 27,000 in 2000 and 14,000 in 2001. The target production was 10,000 juveniles of 100 mm total length (TL). Production in 1999 was disappointing low due to the destruction of the water intake pipes resulting in water quality deterioration. Juvenile production increased with accumulation of more knowledge of its seed production. From the yearly achievement of the project, it seems that a sustainable experimental seed production is viable. As year 2002 is the final year of the project, to attain its goal in developing fish culture in the coastal waters of the Black Sea, the following technical subjects should be worked out: 1) Establishment of spawning technique in hatchery-bred broodstock 2) Improvement of larval survival 3) Establishment of high quality artificial feed