Unfortunately, pike perch reserves in natural conditions are currently declining. This is typical not only for Russia, but also for European countries. In Finland, pike perch has disappeared from 174 lakes over the past 100 years. In the North-West of Russia, in particular in the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga, pike perch catches have stabilized at a low level in recent years.
To reduce the impact of fishing on the number of natural populations of pike perch, it is bred in artificial conditions: abroad, this is done in closed water supply systems (RAS), specialists from the aquaculture laboratory of the St. Petersburg branch of the State Research Center of the Russian Federation "All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography" (VNIRO) are developing technologies for growing pike perch to marketable sizes in cages.
During the experiment using artificial feed developed in the laboratory, the branch specialists evaluate the survival rate and biological indicators in order to determine the density of fish stocking in the cage, solving such a global problem for pike-perch farming as cannibalism (the majority of young fish feed on artificial feed, but some large individuals begin to switch to feeding on their relatives).
As part of the initiative project of a specialist in the genetics laboratory of the St. Petersburg branch of VNIRO, they are conducting research on obtaining triploid pike-perch. Triploids are individuals with a triple set of chromosomes, incapable of sexual reproduction, but with increased productivity. Triploid fish do not spend energy on the production of sex cells, which means they grow quickly. Biologists carry out special intervention at the earliest stages of embryonic development. All the power of the feed goes into growth: a pike-perch at the age of 4-5 years will be 2-3 times larger than ordinary bisexual individuals.
Press service of VNIRO
