The Critical Situation of Sturgeon Stocks in the Caspian Sea

This study was carried out in the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea during 2009-2010.This study aimed to determine the species composition, biomass, relative andabsolute abundance. Trawling was conducted in 90 stations that were selected usinga stratified random design. The Persian sturgeon was more than 83 to 100 percent ofthe catch. The relative abundance of sturgeons (CPUE) indicated that the rate of thecatch declined by 36.5 and 76 % in the spring and fall, respectively. The absoluteestimate of frequency of sturgeons in the Iranian waters indicates that the abundanceof sturgeon in the Caspian Sea in the spring of 1388 and 1389 decreased by 36.6%.Comparing our figures with the total abundance estimated during the previous years,shows a great reduction in sturgeon populations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Stock assessment ، Acipenser persicus ، Caspian Sea ، catch per unit effort ، absolute abundance