SPAWNING GROUNDS INSTALLATION

Installation of artificial spawning grounds in spring is one of the productive measures for increasing of fish stock in Kuibyshev water storage reservoir. Taking into consideration that mainly phytophilous fishes are inhabiting and spawning in Kuibyshev water storage reservoir, fishery biologists of Tatar department of Middle-Volga Branch of Federal State Budgetary Institution “Glavrybvod” focus on installation of artificial spawning grounds in Spasskiy district of the Republic of Tatarstan exactly for this type of fishes. Artificial spawning ground of “band saw” type, developed by Saratov department of GOSNIOKh (State Research and Scientific Institute of Lake and River Fishery) is made of close-meshed caprone webbing of 20-25 m length, 1.5 m width, framed along the edges oncaprone cord. Asubstrateofcapronethreadisfixedas separate bunches throughout the webbing. Past experience approves that survival capacity of spawn on such spawning grounds comprises about 90%, and spawning density is also higher comparing with other artificial spawning grounds. Prior to installation of spawning grounds, fishery biologists explored areas of Kuibyshev water storage reservoir which are the most suitable for installation of artificial spawning grounds. Environmental factors influencing on spawning and embryo healthy development, namely: temperature conditions, dissolved oxygen content in water, depth, flow velocity etc. were taken into account. In 2017 in the territory of State Integrated Nature Reserve “Spasskiy” on the bay of Kuibyshev water storage reservoir nearby “Tenishevskiy” island in the region of Bolgar city the experts of SINR “Spasskiy” in cooperation with fishery biologists and fishermen of Andriyanovs team (Individual Entrepreneur Podgornov) installed artificial spawning grounds in quantity of 5 thousand redds over the area of 2 ha (400X50m). Totally 27 artificial spawning grounds were installed. The spawning grounds were installed horizontally by 3 webbings in a bunch at the level of 1 meter below the water surface. Markers were fixed to each bunch. Spawning grounds installation was performed at 6-70 water temperature. In case of sudden fall in water level in Kuibyshev water storage reservoir, the artificial spawning grounds may be carefully moved to more deep water area; herewith spawn already lay in the spawning grounds will not be destroyed.