GENERAL
Acknowledgement
Introduction
Morphology
Ecology
Systematic
Hybrids
SPECIES
Identification-Key
Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869
Acipenser brevirostrum Lesueur, 1818
Acipenser dabryanus Duméril, 1868
Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817
Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt, 1833
Acipenser medirostris Ayres, 1854
Acipenser naccarii Bonaparte, 1836
Acipenser nudiventris Lovetsky, 1828
Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758
Acipenser schrenckii Brandt, 1869
Acipenser sinensis Gray, 1834
Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771
Acipenser sturio Linnaeus, 1758
Acipenser transmontanus Richardson, 1836
Huso dauricus Georgi, 1775
Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758
Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi Kessler, 1872
Pseudoscaphirhynchus hermanni Kessler, 1877
Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni Bogdanov, 1874
Scaphirhynchus albus Forbes et Richardson, 1905
Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus Rafinesque, 1820
Scaphirhynchus suttkusi Williams et Clemmer, 1991
Polyodon spathula Walbaum, 1792
Psephurus gladius Martens, 1862
Survey of Meristic Characters
AQUACULTURE
Introduction
Capture of Broodstock
Rearing of Broodstock
Handling
Determination of Sex and Ripeness
Hormonal Treatment
Collection of Gametes
Fertilization
Incubation
Tank Rearing
Pond Culture
Recirculation Systems
Netcages
Feeding
Grading
Transport
Disease Treatment
Perspective
Fishery
History
Techniques
Management
Processing
Caviar
Smoking
Markets
APPENDIX
Egg and Larval Development
Prey and Parasites
Synonyms
Conversion Factors
Literature
Society to Save the Sturgeon
Paul Vecsei, University of Guelph, Canada
"There have been few published works which cover so many aspects of sturgeon
diversity, biology, and aquaculture. This volume gives a popularized summary of a great
deal of research done in all fields of sturgeon ontogeny and production.
The author's expertise in multiple fields of sturgeon work is evident throughout the work.
The appeal of this volume would be far reaching since biologists, field technicians,
aquaculturists and fish enthusiasts would all find a wealth of practical information for
their field of study.
Identification of sturgeon species is difficult due to the overlapping morphological
characters and highly variable meristics. In this volume, a simple to use key helps
alleviate the problem. Furthermore, the write-up of each species is accompanied by a brief
descriptive text giving basic recognizable features. The later half of the book gives a
history of sturgeon exploitation and the depleted state of today's stocks is explained as
are the numerous fishing methods.
The chapters dealing with sturgeon aquaculture are very in-depth and treat all aspects of
sturgeon farming. Much of the information is ground breaking and can be attributed to
practices used by the author.
This volume has the style of a species synopsis coupled with everything anyone needs to
know concerning the culture of sturgeon. From reading Hochleithner's book, it becomes
evident that Russia no longer has a monopoly on the rearing of this highly prized food
fish. The western Europeans have combined advanced technology with time proven farming
methods and will soon be able to meet market demands which are increasing due to the
collapse of wild stocks in Russia."
Prof. Dr. Frank A. Chapman, University of Florida, USA
"I found it fascinating and think you did a great job. You actually beat me to it!
For many years I kept saying we need such a book and must write one. Just from reading it
and looking at the pictures ... I believe you love the fish as I do. I'm quite fanatic
about them."
Dir. Steve Serfling, Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida, USA
"Thanks for sending your very interesting book on sturgeon and paddlefishes. I have
learned a lot from it."
David Scarratt, Hatchery International, 2 (6): 5+22.
"Sturgeons are considered to be among the oldest and most primitive of living fishes.
They are represented in the fossil record dating back 175 million years, and are still
found in most of the major river systems of the northern hemisphere. They have been the
subject of fisheries dating back over 5,500 years, and are no less popular today. Their
flesh is firm and good tasting and abouve all, they are the source of caviar, often said
to be worth its weight in gold to the connoisseur. Most if not all modern species are
either threatened or endangered because of environmental degradation or overfishing or
both. Over the past 130 years technology and skills have been developed to cultivate
several species, and so reduce pressure on wild populations and in some cases help
conserve or restore them. Many are actively cultivated today so this new book by Martin
Hochleithner and Jörn Gessner is therefore timely.
The first few pages of the book contain a general
introduction to the order Acipenseriformes (which includes the true sturgeons and
the paddlefishes) describing their morphology and anatomy, their ecology, and systematics.
There is a brief description of a couple of extinct fossil species and some living
hybrids, followed by diagnostic keys which should enable anyone to identify any sturgeon
or paddlefish that they might encounter. Then all of the 24 modern species are described
in detail (in alphabetical order), including their morphology, distribution, ecology, life
cycle, and economy. The differences and similarities among the various species make for
fascinating reading. Sturgeon for the most part are big fish. Some, like mature Atlantic
sturgeon, may reach 6 m in length and weigh over 600 kg. Belouga sturgeons reach 8 m in
length and weigh up to 800 kg. Other species such as the shortnose sturgeon barely exceed
a meter in length, but all have been subject to intense fisheries. In spite of their often
large sizes sturgeons mostly eat small prey; molluscs, worms, small crustaceans, etc, and
relatively small fish living in or on the bottoms of the lakes, rivers, estuaries, and
costal areas which they frequent. In addition to the general descriptions, each species is
photographed and maps of their distribution are given.
Rather more than half the book is devoted to the culture of sturgeons and paddlefish, and
this perhaps is where its principal value lies. As near as I can see everything is covered
from capture of wild broodstock to the marketing of product. Much of the pioneer work on
sturgeon culture was conducted in formes Soviet countries, but in the last decade there
has been much development elsewhere in the world, based on this earlier experience. The
book is comprehensive in this regard, detailing the capture, selection and conditioning of
brood stock, induction and synchronization of spawning using hormones, collection of eggs
and sperm, and so on through to hatching and the culture of larvae. There is discussion on
the value of having a captive developed brood stock, but nothing on the problems of
accessing wild stocks in nations where strict conservation regulations are already in
place. There is a pomprehensive section on grow-out drawing heavily on experiences aroung
the world (North America, Europe, Asia), and a section on diseases. There is discussion on
modern fisheries and fisheries management and a section on processing and marketing,
including descriptions of smoking (a favoured product) and the preparation of caviar.
There is a short but useful bibliography. A full sturgeon bibliography is also available.
The book is soft bound, pocket size, with photographs, maps and diagrams in black and
white. The text is translated from the German (by Jörn Gessner) but unfortunately
contains a number of grammatical inexactudes and spelling errors. While regrettable in
such a thoroughly researched book, these do not result in any serious likelihood of
misunderstanding. It will be a valuable addition to any aquaculturist library."
Dr. Erich Kainz, Institut of Water Ecology and Fisheries
Biology, Austria (German version)
"Mediated by the drastic decline of sturgeon fishes in central Europe in the former
century and their subsequent extirpation - except the sterlet of the Austrian part of the
Danube following World War I - the knowledge of this interesting group is lost even in
fishery related circles. The disappearance of sturgeons, led to a significant decrease in
value of the commercial Danube fisheries, and a decrease in scientific interest in the
species. This situation accounted for the absence of literature on sturgeons in the German
speaking countries. The author has filled this niche with the publication presented.
The book provides valuable information by adding the authors experience to the published
knowledge in the fields of artificial reproduction and rearing of the various sturgeon
species, topics which are comprehensively and clearly presented. It can be highly
recommended for all those that are dealing with the production of sturgeon species."
Österreichs Fischerei, 50 (7): 173. - Fischer & Teichwirt, 49 (1):
30-31.
"Einleitend werden in diesem Buch Körperbau, Lebensweise und Systematik der
Störartigen behandelt. Daran anschließend findet sich ein umfangreiches Kapitel, in
welchem die einzelnen Arten hinsichtlich ihrer wesentlichen Körpermerkmale, der
geografischen Verbreitung, Lebensweise und Bedeutung (Fang, Fischzucht) vorgestellt
werden.
Der zweite Teil beschäftigt sich mit der Aquakultur, beginnend vom Laichfischfang über
die Laichfischhaltung, Vermehrung, Aufzucht bis hin zur Verarbeitung. Im Anhang finden
sich Rezepte, eine Auflistung der wichtigsten Nährtire der Störartigen, ihrer
häufigsten Parasiten sowie ein Literaturverzeichnis.
Durch den drastischen Rückgang der Störartigen in Mitteleuropa im vorigen Jahrhundert
und das völlige verschwinden der Störe - mit Ausnahme des Sterlets in der österr. Donau
nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg - ist das Wissen um diese sehr interessante, seit dem
Erdmittelalter existierende Fischgruppe auch in Fischerkreisen weitgehend
verlorengegangen. Das Verschwinden der Störartigen aus vielen Gewässersystemen, die bis
zum 18. Jahrhundert auch in der Donau eine große wirtschaftliche Bedeutung hatten, hat
bewirkt, daß diese Fischgruppe danach in der Fachliteratur nur mehr sehr stiefmütterlich
behandelt wurde. Arbeiten über Störartige sind z. B. im deutschen Sprachraum innerhalb
der letzten Jahrzehnte nur vereinzelt erschienen. Der Autor hat mit seiner Publikation
daher in der deutschsprachigen Fachliteratur eine Lücke gefüllt.
Dieses Büchlein bietet insofern wertvolle Informationen, als viele Erfahrungen bei der
künstlichen Fortpflanzung und Aufzucht der verschiedenen Störarten berücksichtigt und
zusammengefaßt dargestellt werden. Es kann daher jedem, der sich vor allem mit der
Aufzucht von Stören beschäftigt, uneingeschränkt empfohlen werden."
Jäger & Fischer, 43. Nr. 7
"Das Fachbuch Störe des Österreichischen Agrarverlags umfaßt
erstmals das gesamte Wissen rund um den Stör zusammen. Im ersten Teil wird ein Überblick
über Körperbau, Lebensweise und Systematik dieser Fischart gegeben. Ein spezieller
Bestimmungsschlüssel erleichtert erstmals das exakte Bestimmen einzelnen Störarten, die
in detailierten Einzeldarstellungen beschrieben werden. Im Kapitel Aquakultur werden alle
Fragen der Aufzucht, Haltung, Fischerei und Verarbeitung erörtert. Ein umfangreicher
Anhang mit Rezepten, Adressen, einem Synonymenregister und Literaturangaben
vervollständigen dieses Buch.
Martin Hochleithner ist einer der führenden Stör-Spezialisten und auch außerhalb
Österreichs anerkannter Fischzüchter. Er hat an zahlreichen Forschungsprojekten am
Institut für Fischforschung mitgearbeitet. Seit 1994 widmet sich der Mitbegründer der
"Gesellschaft zur Rettung des Störs" intensiv der Koordination und Organisation
der Erforschung der Störe sowie der Wiedereinbürgerung in Europa."
Ähnliche Berichte in:
Salzburgs Fischerei (2/1997); Rute & Rolle (5/1997); Fisch & Fang (8/1997); Petri
Heil - Schweizerische Fischerei-Zeitung (10/1997); Fischmagazin (9/2000); World
Aquaculture (12/2001); etc.