Currently, the Donskoy Sturgeon Plant of the Glavrybvod Federal State Budgetary Institution is conducting a spawning campaign for beluga, a particularly valuable species of sturgeon. In April 2026, specialists from the Aquaculture Center of VNIRO's Southern Branch collected data on the biological condition of beluga producers and assessed their response to hormonal stimulation. To analyze the fish-breeding quality of caviar obtained from producers, samples were taken for further in-house processing.
The subsequent analysis of the collected data will make it possible to assess the effectiveness of the conducted spawning campaign, as well as the quality of the obtained juveniles, which are planned to be released into natural reservoirs in order to maintain and restore populations of this species.
The spawning campaign was preceded by the planned scientific work of the specialists of the Southern Branch of VNIRO on the preliminary development of optimal breeding pairs based on the genetic characteristics of the producers. In total, 25 female beluga whales with an average weight of 77 kg will be used in the spawning campaign of 2026 by the Donskoy Sturgeon Factory, of which 4 are re-spawning. Spawning operations with beluga are continuing.
For reference: currently, the Donskoy Sturgeon Plant is the only fish farm engaged in the cultivation and release of juvenile beluga whales into their natural habitat as part of a state assignment. In addition to beluga, in 2026, work is planned at this enterprise on the cultivation and release of juvenile Russian sturgeon, sturgeon and sterlet. All key stages of the technological process will be monitored by the staff of the Aquaculture Center of the Southern Branch of VNIRO, promptly providing scientific recommendations on their optimization.
VNIRO Press Service
