As part of the large—scale work, scientists examined 48 lakes with a total area of about 240 km2, focusing on assessing the raw material base of this valuable biological resource - it is widely used in aquaculture and fish farming as a nutritious starter feed.
During the expedition, the specialists carried out complex hydrological and hydrochemical measurements: they recorded the temperature and salinity of the water, the concentration of dissolved oxygen, the transparency of the water column and the depth at the sampling points. The results showed an important trend: in most reservoirs, an increase in water content and a decrease in salinity were noted compared to the previous two years. Due to these changes, the fauna of a number of lakes is gradually acquiring a freshwater character, and this directly affects the habitat conditions of halophilic organisms, including artemia.
The collected data will become the basis for an objective assessment of the state of artemia stocks, will allow tracking the dynamics of the number and quality of cysts, and will also help form scientifically sound recommendations for the rational and sustainable use of the resource.
VNIRO Press Service
