Fish Protection Research Articles

On the issue of reintroduction of sterlet into rivers and reservoirs of the European part of Russia

In recent years, sterlet populations of mainly “factory” origin have been formed in the rivers Sheksna, Mologa, Oka, Dnieper, Kuban and Don, as well as Uglich, Gorky and Kama reservoirs, the growth of which is most dependent on the volume of release of its young. The structure of “factory” sterlet populations in rivers and reservoirs of the European part of Russia differs from native populations of this species in a number of commercial and biological features. In the above-mentioned water bodies for the period from 2019 to 2023. The share of sterlet in control catches has increased dramatically, despite the fact that the habitat conditions of this species and the degree of fish protection measures have not changed significantly. Sterlet of “factory” origin in rivers and reservoirs inhabits sturgeon biotopes uncharacteristic for this species. The indicators of linear and weight growth of the “factory” sterlet in younger age groups are on average higher than similar indicators for sterlets from natural spawning. Males strongly predominate in the sexual composition of the samples of the “factory” sterlet and to date no producers with post-spawning gonadal changes have been found. The results of accounting for early juvenile fish during the period of sloping migrations in the upper reaches of the Oka, Dnepr rivers, as well as the Saratov reservoir showed that, despite the relatively high concentration of mature sterlet in the places of accounting for juveniles and the location upstream of spawning grounds of lithophilic fish species, sterlet larvae in catches of ichthyoplankton traps from producers of “factory” origin to the present not detected.

Evaluation of Female Recipient Infertility and Donor Spermatogonial Purification for Germ Cell Transplantation in Paralichthys olivaceus.

Since the advent of germ cell transplantation (GCT), it has been widely used in shortening the fish breeding cycle, sex-controlled breeding and the protection of rare and endangered fish. In this study, the effectiveness of female sterile recipient preparation and donor stem cell isolation and purification were comprehensively evaluated for spermatogonial stem cell transplantation (SSCT) in Paralichthys olivaceus. The best way to prepare sterile recipients was found to be giving three-year-old fish four intraovarian injections of busulfan (20 mg/kg body weight) combined with exposure to a high temperature (28 °C) after the spawning season compared with the two other ways, which induced apoptosis of most of the endogenous germ cells, resulting in shrinkage of the spawning plate and enlargement of the ovarian lumen. Further analysis showed that both the gonadosomatic index and germ-cell-specific vasa expression were significantly lower than those of the natural-temperature group before treatment (p < 0.05). A high percentage (>60.00%) of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) were obtained after isolation and purification and were transplanted into the prepared recipients. After three weeks of SSCT, the numbers of PKH26-labeled SSCs were increased in the ovaries of the recipients. These findings provide a basis for the establishment of an ideal SSCT technique using P. olivaceus females as the recipients, ultimately contributing to the efficient conservation of male germplasm resources and effective breeding.

A Review on the Impact of Vertical Slotted Fish Passages on Fish Populations in River Basins

The interruption of fish migration routes has a negative impact on the health of aquatic populations and ecosystems. To address this issue, vertical seam fishways are designed to assist fish in crossing dams and embankments. This article integrates the concept and design ideas of vertical seam fishways, the impact assessment of vertical seam fishway construction on fish in the watershed, as well as the problems and challenges encountered, by searching and reading relevant materials. The aim is to provide reference for ecological restoration and fish protection in hydraulic engineering.

First Experimental Application of DNA-Layered Salmonid Alphavirus-Based Replicon Vaccine in Non-Salmonid Fish: Induced Early Semi-Specific Protection against Spring Viraemia of Carp Virus (SVCV) in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Our study demonstrates the first application of the salmonid alphavirus-based replicon vector system (pSAV) as a DNA vaccine in a non-salmonid fish species, in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) against spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV). SAV replicon encoding the glycoprotein of the SVCV was used as a DNA-layered plasmid, and its efficacy was compared with a previously described conventional DNA vaccine construct (pcDNA3.1 based vector) and with a control group (pcDNA3.1-empty-plasmid) in an SVCV challenge at a water temperature of 14 ± 1 °C. Vaccine prototypes were administered intramuscularly at a dose of 0.1 µg/g of fish (n = 25 per group). The DNA-layered SAV replicon resulted in 88% survival, compared to around 50% in all other groups. The DNA-layered pSAV vaccination induced the innate immune genes at the injection site, and increased IgM upregulation was also observed. Our preliminary results show that the SAV-based replicon construct may serve as a potential vaccine candidate for the protection of non-salmonid fish in the future provided that further clinical and field trials confirm its efficiency.

Fish Protection or Protection of Fish?

Fish Protection or Protection of Fish?

Review Of Intellectual Property Law On Micro, Small, And Medium Enterprise Products Of Selar Fish Crackers In Warnasari Village, Cilegon City

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) activities in Cilegon City are one of the growing business sectors to support the national economy.. For business actors starting a business, they need to think about the concept of business and intellectual property protection. In the business world, Intellectual Property can be one of the important elements because it can give the owner an advantage over the results of his invention. This study aims to determine the concept and product innovation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Selar Fish Crackers in Warnasari Village, Citangkil District, Cilegon City, and to determine the legal protection of intellectual property for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME products), Selar Fish Crackers in Warnasari Village, Citangkil District, Cilegon City. This research uses qualitative methods and empirical juridical approaches. Where the research is conducted by looking at the law as a norm or das sollen and as a socio-cultural reality or das sein obtained directly from the research location. The data analysis technique uses descriptive analytical techniques. The results showed that the concept and innovation of MSMEs is the first step taken to develop the Akbar Jaya Fish Crackers business and protect intellectual property in its products, one of which is by registering the brand to the Directorate General of Intellectual Property to obtain legal certainty.

Immersion immunization with recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae displaying ORF25 induced protective immunity against cyprinid herpesvirus 2.

Displaying antigens on yeast surface as an oral vaccine has been widely explored, while its potential as an immersion vaccine has not been evaluated. Here, an immersion vaccine was prepared by displaying ORF25 of Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) on the surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Carassius auratus gibelio was immersion immunized by 2 × 107 CFU/mL yeast for 2 h, and reinforce the immunity using the same method 14 days after the first immunization. The results showed that ORF25 specific antibody in immunized crucian carp serum was detected at a high level, and the mRNA expression level of IgM, IgT, IL-1β, and IFN-1 in vaccinated head-kidney and spleen tissues were higher than the control group, indicating that innate and adaptive immunity were induced. Moreover, the immersion vaccination provided effective protection for fish against CyHV-2, leading to a relative percent survival of 50.2%. Meanwhile, immersion vaccination restrained virus replication and histological damage in CyHV-2 infected crucian carp. Our data suggested that immersion immunization of S. cerevisiae-displayed ORF25 could be served as a candidate vaccine to prevent CyHV-2 infection.

Catechol compounds as dual-targeting agents for fish protection against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis infections

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing sectors in global food production, recognized as a significant contributor to poverty alleviation, food security, and income generation. However, the frequent occurrence of diseases caused by pathogen infections result in reduced yields and economic losses, posing a substantial constraint to the sustainable development of aquaculture. Here, our study identified that four catechol compounds, quercetin, luteolin, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid, exhibited potent antiparasitic effects against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in both, in vitro and in vivo. The parasite is recognized as one of the most pathogenic to fish worldwide. Using a combination of in silico methods, the dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) was identified as a critical target for catechol compounds. The two hydroxyl radicals of the catechol group were essential for its binding to and interacting with the DPP protein. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that catechol compounds disrupt pathways associated with the metabolism and growth of I. multifiliis, thereby exerting antiparasitic effects. Furthermore, these compounds attenuated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in vivo in fish and promoted macrophage polarization toward M2 phenotype by inhibiting the STAT1 signaling pathway. The dual activity of catechol compounds, acting as both direct antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory agents in fish, offers a promising therapeutic approach for combating I. multifiliis infections in aquaculture.

Numerical simulation of fish damage in a bulb tubular turbine with different guide vane openings

Abstract Tubular turbines have advantages in developing low-head hydropower, however, the development of hydropower shouldn’t forget to maintain a balance with ecology. In this paper, a three-dimensional model of the flow channel of a low-head power plant bulb tubular turbine unit is established using Unigraphics NX, and the hydraulic characteristics and fish damage mechanisms of the turbine under different guide vane openings of 45∼85 mm in rated operating conditions are simulated and analyzed using STAR-CCM+, and it is found that the fish mainly suffers from impact damage and pressure damage in the downstream process with the highest probabilities of 15.73% and 15.72%, respectively. Furthermore, with the increase of the opening of the guide vane, the probability of shear damage to the fish first decreases and then increases, while the probability of pressure, pressure gradient, and impact damage all gradually increase, and the probability of all four types of damage reaches the highest when the opening of the guide vane is 85 mm. Although the unit will have a large output at large opening operating conditions, from the point of view of fish protection, it is better for such turbines not to be operated with large opening of the guide vane for a long time.

Field laboratory fish protection - How the Free State of Bavaria promotes innovative technology

Field laboratory fish protection - How the Free State of Bavaria promotes innovative technology

Study of the features of zoobenthos development in the area of water air curtain type fish protection structure in the cooling reservoir of the SDPP

PURPOSE. Study of the features of hydrobiological characteristics of zoobenthos development under conditions of an operating fish protection structure of a water-air curtain (WAC ) type at an energy facility. METHODS. Hydrobiological material on the qualitative and quantitative composition of zoobenthos in the water intake area of the Zainskaya State District Power Plant was collected, processed and analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the level of development of the biofouling agent - Dreissena, and the acclimating species, the Khanka shrimp. A comparative analysis of our own research and literature data on hydrobiological indicators of water quality according to the level of development of zoobenthos in the area of a fish protection structure such as a water-air curtain was carried out. The material was processed using generally accepted hydrobiological methods in the laboratory of the Department of Aquatic Bioresources and Aquaculture of Kazan State Power Engineering University. RESULTS. It is shown that a fish protection device like a water-air curtain (WAC) is a technical solution that, in the process of operation, changes the physical and chemical characteristics of the state of the ecosystem, especially in the bottom layer and soil, thereby shaping the characteristics of zoobenthos. It was revealed that a fish protection structure (FPS) like a water-air curtain does not reduce the species diversity of zoobenthos It has been shown that the WAC zone does not prevent the reproduction of Dreissena, but leads to a decrease in their numbers from 2 to 5 times compared to FPS with mesh cassettes, which increases the environmental significance of the WAC from the standpoint of combating biofouling on hydraulic structures. CONCLUSION. Observations of the state of the ecosystem in the area of operation of the water-air curtain and assessment of water quality based on zoobenthos indicators revealed high water quality in the area where the water-air curtain operates and an improvement in the ecological situation.

Interplay of management and environmental drivers shifts size structure of reef fish communities.

Countries are expanding marine protected area (MPA) networks to mitigate fisheries declines and support marine biodiversity. However, MPA impact evaluations typically assess total fish biomass. Here, we examine how fish biomass disaggregated by adult and juvenile life stages responds to environmental drivers, including sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and human footprint, and multiple management types at 139 reef sites in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region. We found that total fish biomass generally appears stable across the region from 2006 to 2018, with limited rebuilding of fish stocks in MPAs. However, the metric of total fish biomass masked changes in fish community structure, with lower adult than juvenile fish biomass at northern sites, and adult:juvenile ratios closer to 1:1 at southern sites. These shifts were associated with different responses of juvenile and adult fish to environmental drivers and management. Juvenile fish biomass increased at sites with high larval connectivity and coral cover, whereas adult fish biomass decreased at sites with greater human footprint and SST anomalies. Adult fish biomass decreased primarily in Honduran general use zones, which suggests insufficient protection for adult fish in the southern MAR. There was a north-south gradient in management and environmental drivers, with lower coverage of fully protected areas and higher SST anomalies and coastal development in the south that together may undermine the maintenance of adult fish biomass in the southern MAR. Accounting for the interplay between environmental drivers and management in the design of MPAs is critical for increasing fish biomass across life history stages.

Аналіз стану умов відтворення аборигенних іхтіопопуляцій Стир-Горинського гідроекологічного коридору на території Західного Полісся України

Purpose. To investigate the state of reproduction conditions, current and in dynamics since 1922, for native ichthyopopulations (NI) of the Styr-Horyn Hydroecological Corridor (HEC) on the territory of the Western Polissiya of Ukraine. Methodology. The Styr-Horyn HEC was studied according to the following parameters: hydrological regime and duration of water stay on the floodplain; state of the basin surface; speed of channel flow; amount of water exchange; quality of aquatic environment; natural-temporal changes of the channel, floodplains, tributary network; number of ecotones; qualitative and quantitative characteristics of fish juveniles. The hydrological regime was studied using the analysis of runoff hydrographs located in the Volyn, Rivne, and Zhytomyr regions starting from 1922. To assess water quality, KND No. 211.1.4.010-94, “Methodology of ecological assessment of surface water quality by relevant categories”, SOU – 05.01.37-385: 2006, was used. Ichthyological studies were carried out in the field and laboratory according to standard methods with the use of identification keys primarily using the data of test catches and the classification of V. G. Nikolskyi. Statistical and mathematical analysis was performed using the Delfi programming language, relevant computer programs (Mathcad, Excel, Xara) and formulas, including authors’ ones. Findings. An analysis of the Styr-Horyn HEC was carried out on the basis of restorative ichthyoecology using the basin principle and riskology approaches. The hydroecological and ichthyoecological factors affecting the reproduction of NI were studied. The natural fish reproduction localities (NFRL) in this region have been identified. Originality. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the state of the reproduction conditions of the Styr-Horyn HEC on the territory of the Western Polissiya of Ukraine was carried out starting from 1922. In addition, a prognostic assessment of the NFRL of this HEC on the territory of Ukraine has been provided. Practical value. The conducted studies are already successfully used in the work of higher educational institutions of Ukraine in the field of training “Aquatic bioresources and aquaculture”.In addition, they are used by fish protection authorities in several regions of Ukraine, in particular for certification of wintering grounds. In the future, their implementation is planned at the level of the national environmental protection policy and in the preparation of regulatory documents regarding the determination of the damage caused and the extent of the damage. Keywords: Pripyat River, Horyn River, Styr River, hydroecology, ichthyoecology, Western Polissiya, hydroecological corridor, natural fish reproduction localities, spawning grounds, wintering grounds, fish migrations, native ichthyofauna.

OPTIMIZATION OF DESIGN OF THE FISH-SPAWNING PASS OF THE BAGAEVSKY HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX USING NUMERICAL 2D MODELING

Numerical hydrodynamic modeling of the flow of water and sediment through the fish-spawning pass of the Bagaevsky hydroelectric complex on the river Don is considered. The calculations use two-dimensional shallow water and sediment transport equations by the STREAM 2D CUDA software complex. Recommendations are made to change the longitudinal profile of the bottom and the configuration of the inlet section, as well as to increase the coefficient of roughness of the bottom and sides of the channel to ensure fish protection requirements.

Comparative analysis of gut microbiome in Pangasionodon hypopthalmus and Labeo catla during health and disease.

The present study was conducted to study the composition of gut microbiome in the advanced fingerling and fingerling stage of striped pangasius catfish and catla during healthy and diseased conditions. Healthy pangasius and catla fishes were obtained from commercial farms and injected with the LD50 dose of A. hydrophila. The intestinal samples from the control and injected group were collected and pooled for 16s metagenomic analysis. Community analysis was performed by targeting the 16s rRNA gene to explore and compare the gut microbiota composition of these fishes. The operational taxonomic units (OTUs) consisted of four major phyla: Bacteroidia, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Alpha and beta diversity indices were carried out to understand the diversity of microbes within and between a sample. While comparing the advanced fingerling and fingerling stage gut microbiome of Pangasius catfish, the dominance of Proteobacteria was found in fingerlings, whereas Firmicutes and Bacteroides were found in advanced fingerlings. In catla, Proteobacteria and Bacteroides were predominant. Taxonomic abundance of the microbiota in control and diseased Pangasius and catla fishes at phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species levels were also depicted. The present study is the first of its kind, and it will help to identify the diversity of novel potential bacterial species involved in disease protection of fishes. It can lead to the development of sustainable prophylactic measures against (re-)emerging bacterial diseases in aquaculture.

Sensor Fish Deployments at the Xayaburi Hydropower Plant: Measurements and Simulations

Fish protection is a priority in regions with ongoing and planned development of hydropower production, like the Mekong River system. The evaluation of the effects of turbine passage on the survival of migratory fish is a primary task for informing hydropower plant operators and authorities about the environmental performance of plant operations. The present work characterizes low pressures and collision rates through the Kaplan-type runners of the Xayaburi hydropower station. Both an experimental method based on the deployment of Sensor Fish and a numerical strategy based on flow and passage simulations were implemented on the analysis of two release elevations at one operating point. Nadir pressures and pressure drops through the runner were very sensitive to release elevation, but collision rates on the runner were not. The latter showed a frequency of occurrence of 8.2–9.3%. Measured magnitudes validated the corresponding simulation outcomes in regard to the averaged magnitudes as well as to the variability. Central to this study is that simulations were conducted based on current industry practices for designing turbines. Therefore, the reported agreement helps turbine engineers gain certainty about the prediction power of flow and trajectory simulations for fish passage assessments. This can accelerate the development of environmentally enhanced technology with minimum impact on natural resources.

Studies of the acoustic activity of white whales (in captive conditions and the possibility of their signals using to control behavior of fish in fishing process

The purpose of the work: identification of acoustic activity of belugas in conditions of aviary keeping and justification of the possibility of using their signals in fishing.The material of research was digital audio recordings of hydroacoustic signals of belugas collected from 2016 to 2018.Methods used: analysis of hydroacoustic data, visualization of the daily acoustic activity of belugas in different seasons, identification of stereotypes of acoustic behavior and characteristic signals in captive conditions and during fish hunting. Novelty: for the first time a substantiation for the possibility of using signals of one of the species of toothed whales — belugas registered in the captive conditions, to influence on the behavior of hydrobionts and solve practical problems of fishing and fish protection is given.Results: the highest acoustic activity of white whales is observed during the day and noticeably decreases at night with increase and decrease in the morning and evening hours. Maximum acoustic activity precedes the feeding of dolphins.The most common tones are those containing the fundamental frequency and harmonics. Characteristic features of the sounds are high variability of duration from 0.25 to 2.5 s, pronounced frequency components in the 500–2500 Hz spectrum zones, amplitude and frequency modulation, sound pressure levels of the signal up to 500 Pa /1 m.Acoustic activity of belugas during fish hunting and in the period preceding feeding in captive conditions, stereotypical. Typical are low-frequency frequency-modulated calls and whistles in the hearing range of fish, as well as a curtain of air bubbles and body and tail slaps. Possible ways of using beluga whale signals to increase the efficiency of fishing are proposed.Practical significance: the results of the study open up the possibility of using the signals of belugas to remotely control the movement of fish, create artificial concentrations and deterrent of hydrobionts in the intended areas.

Study of the features of hydrochemical characteristics and development of zooplankton in the area of water-air curtain type fish protection structure in the cooling reservoir of the SDPP

PURPOSE. Study of the features of hydrobiological characteristics of zooplankton development under operating conditions of a fish protection structure similar to a water-air curtain (WAC) at an energy facility.METHODS. Hydrobiological material was collected, processed and analyzed on the physical and chemical characteristics of water and on the qualitative and quantitative composition of zooplankton in the water intake area of the Zainskaya State District Power Plant. A comparative analysis of our own research and literature data on the characteristics of water in the area of a water-air curtain fish protection structure was carried out. The material was processed using generally accepted hydrobiological methods in the laboratory of the Department of Aquatic Bioresources and Aquaculture of Kazan State Energy University.RESULTS. It is shown that a fish protection device of the water-air curtain type is a multifunctional technical solution, which during operation changes the physical and chemical characteristics of the state of the ecosystem, especially in the bottom layer. It was revealed that a fish protection structure (FPS) like a water-air curtain does not reduce the species diversity of zooplankton. In the area where the WAC operates, the maximum abundance and biomass of zooplankton were noted compared to control stations. The basis of the number and biomass of zooplankton were crustaceans: cladocerans accounted for 50.2% of the total biomass, copepods accounted for 46.1%.CONCLUSION. Observations of the state of the ecosystem in the area of operation of the water-air curtain and assessment of water quality based on hydrobiological indicators revealed high water quality in the area where the WAC operates, and an improvement in the environmental situation.

Effects of Combining Vaccines and Immunostimulants on Protection of Fish against Infectious Diseases

Effects of Combining Vaccines and Immunostimulants on Protection of Fish against Infectious Diseases

An investigation into the practical application of the physical principle to ensure the safety of hydraulic structures during the construction of Novokarachayevskaya small hydropower plants on the Kuban River

Many countries around the world have embraced small hydropower as a stable component of their energy sector. Small HPPs in Russia generate approximately 2.2 billion kWh/year, and experts estimate their technical potential to be around 382 billion kWh/year. Small hydropower is an excellent alternative to centralized power supply for remote and hard-to-reach areas and areas with limited transmission capacity of power lines. The construction of small hydropower plants will also allow efficient use of river water resources for water supply, fishery, transportation, etc. This paper examines the construction of a small hydropower plant that will provide electricity to the communities near the hydropower plant. The purpose of the study is to investigate the option of applying the physical principle of fish protection using diverting re-forming fish protection structures to prevent fish from entering the system of structures of the Novokarachayevsk small hydroelectric power plant.