Artificial propagation first realized on precious sturgeon

Chinese researchers have realized the artificial propagation of a type of precious species, ship sturgeons, for the first time, according to Science and Technology Daily on Monday.

   Jointly conducted by the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS) and enterprises based in the country's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the artificial fish propagation started on May 21.

   A total of 120,000 fish eggs of ship sturgeons were artificially inseminated and half of them were successfully fertilized. With a rate of 42 percent, 25,200 fry were hatched, said the report.

   After 50 days of cultivation, over 6,000 fry are still alive, reaching six centimeters long.

   Ship sturgeon is under second-class state protection in China. In the 1930s, the fish entered the Ili River in Xinjiang. However, its population has plummeted since the end of last century, said Zhang Ying with the CAFS.

   The artificial propagation of the ship sturgeons marks a leap forward in the ecological protection of Ili River, especially the protection of the fish, the newspaper reported.