A review on genetic studies in sturgeons and their trade control in China

Abstract

Summary Eight native species of Acipenseriformes mainly inhabit three geographical regions in China: the Yangtze system, the Amur system and the Xinjiang area. All sturgeon populations in China have suffered from various anthropogenic impacts, pushing them to rarity or extirpation in most of their historical range. Sturgeon aquaculture in China has become popular since 1998 with eleven species and hybrids presently being cultured. In this paper, we firstly review the development and current status of aquaculture with sturgeons and paddlefish in China. Secondly, we present some of the main conclusions that can be drawn from previous conservation genetic and phylogenetic studies in native sturgeon species. The sturgeon trade control in China is also reported in this review. Considering the outcome of all previous studies, we conclude, firstly, in sturgeon aquaculture, capture breeding program is the key to establish a sustainable sturgeon culture industry in China, which will also help sturgeon conservation. Secondly, in conservation genetics, the influence of restocking and release programmes on native populations need to be assessed much more comprehensively in order to avoid admixture and hybridization among genetically different spawning stocks. This holds especially for Chinese sturgeon and Amur sturgeon. Thirdly, in trade control, considering the current endangered status of this species, catch quotas should be based on the results of scientific investigations rather than on official statistics of harvest records. Finally, species identification methods based on the combination of mitochondrial and nuclear markers are still unsufficiently developed in China and in need of rapid attention. They are the first step in structuring and implementing a successful conservation programme and provide the necessary tools for effective international trade control.

Effects of damming on population sustainability of Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis: evaluation of optimal conservation measures

“…3b. This is in accordance with field works showing a low survival rate of juvenile sturgeons and therefore suggesting increasing supplementation (Chang 1999;Zhu et al 2008;Wei 2003), as efficiently done for other sturgeon species. For example, millions of juveniles of Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedti), stellate sturgeon (A. stellatus) and beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) were released each year in the Caspian Sea to sustain these species and compensate for population loss due to reduced spawning grounds, pollution, and commercial fishing (Secor et al 2000;Ludwig 2008).…”

Analysis of publications on sturgeon research between 1996 and 2010

“…It has emerged as the second most productive country in this field. A rapid growth of publication output was also experienced by China, which might not be surprising as it has become the largest sturgeon aquaculture producer in the world (Zhu et al 2008) and actively promoting international cooperation. According to the observed trends, it is very likely that the Asian countries will surpass both North America and Europe within the next 5-10 years by their total publication output.…”

“…A number of reviews were published within the sturgeon research fields (e.g. Billard and Lecointre 2001;Ludwig 2006;Zhu et al 2008). However, there were no attempts to provide a more quantitative assessment of the current status and trends of this research thus far.…”

Identification and characterization of seventeen novel microsatellite markers for Dabry’s sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus)

“…A. dabryanus was an important species in commercial fisheries of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River before the 1980s (Zhu et al 2009). However, due to construction of dam, overfishing and pollution, natural populations have declined sharply in the past decades (Zhu et al 2008). Natural production of A. dabryanus is so small and scattered that no exact account of total production has been reported since 1995 (Zhang et al 2011).…”