Fish welfare under the transportation of Siberian sturgeon fish (Acipenser baerii)

In this study, it was aimed to determine appropriate transport conditions of 4+ old Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) at different transport conditions (water temperature, stock density and time). Mean fish weight was 980 ± 50 g, and their mean condition factor was 0,47 ± 0,05. The effects of stocking density, water temperature, time variables and some blood parameters were studied. At the end of the study it was determined that toxic ammoniac nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen levels at 100 and 150 kg / m3 stock levels would reach a critical level (4,7 mg L-1) at 16th hour, after 8 hours at 15 °C water temperature. However, at a density of 50 kg/m3, the fish transportation at a water temperature of 15±1°C for 20 hours were found to be safe. The increase in water quality deterioration shows that the Siberian sturgeon fish transportation can be risky from the 16th hour.