Conservation strategies for the Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis: an overview on 30 years of practices and future needs

摘要: Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Wuxi, Jiangsu, ChinaSummaryChinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis Gray), a species withimportant scientific and economic values, has been listed as aFirst Class Protected Animal by the China Government in1989. Due to effects human activities, wildpopulation A. declined drastically in past30 years. Though series policies protective measureshave implemented, number continues todrop. Considering declining trend populationresource, some new conservation strategies are presented. Onthe one hand, measures should be taken on themanagement side: (i) fishing prohibited theYangtze River, (ii) solid plan resourcesconservation identified based criteriafor which research completed, (iii) managementof water environment Yangtze River system shouldbe enhanced. On other lot emphasis beplaced studies natural population, including theexisting remaining core spawning grounds andhabitats sinensis. Additionlly, cryopreservation ofgametes for gene banking constructing aritificial spawninggrounds broodstock management highly necessary,while also establishment closed-cycle systems formaintaining captive is needed order providethe quality control foundation sustainablefarming while at same time serving tool thepreservation pool species.IntroductionChinese Gray) large andtypically anadromous species, mainly distributed inthe along continental shelf areasof East Sea Yellow (YARSG, 1988). It wasalso Critical Endangered IUCN RedList (IUCN, 2010). In late 20th century, due increasedhuman such hydroelectric projects, overfishing,water pollution, heavy shipping, dredging navigationchannels quarrying have altered river system, blockedthe migration route, changed spwaning grounds, alteredthe bed morphology substrate types habitatsfor Meanwhile, the`se activities alsochanged hydrogeology, well asspatial distribution runoff (Huet al., 1985). All these changes failed satisfy theconditions (habitats hydrologic quality) neededfor reproduction (Hu et 1992; Yanget 2006; Zhang 2007). was reported that thespawning limited <5 km riverreaches below Gezhouba Dam, <1% thelength original 600 upstream reaches thisspecies historically used River. Particularly, its area now being restricted onlyabout 3 (Kynard al.,1995; Wei 1998; Yang al.,2007; Tao 2009), consequence, continuously become smaller.In protect population resources, governmenthas worked out strengthen legislation andpublicized accordingly. Further, government alsoestablished reserve rescue stations sinensis,where controlled propagation performed releasingprogrammes prohibiting commercialfishing, implementing permit limitingfishing establishing closedfishing areas seasons.However, specimens thepopulation quantity eggs spawningfrequency significantly since (Xiao 2006;Hu 2009). The numbers involved broodstockpopulation (from downstream GezhoubaDam Gulaobei; 30 km) located naturalreserve established were determined byBisonics DT-X Echosounder (200 kHz) between 2004 and2005 with following results: 1, 453 789 individuals in2004 2005, respectively (Zhang wasdeduced if all factors maintained level next 20 years, ofA. may reach minimum 2019, about 402individuals left (Chang, 1999).Therefore, it necessary urgent analysis reasonswhy alarm-ingly smaller smaller, must focuson determining effective ways restore theA. resources.Reasons continuous decline populationThough protectivemeasures, certainly slowed down process ofdecline ways, still continuing decline, reasons follows.