Determination of appropriate time for sturgeon catch.

Practical phase of the project aimed at studying and determination of the most appropriate time for sturgeon catch was conducted at 10 catch stations (2 in each region) in Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces in 2002 and 2003. Number of catch stations was 4 in Guilan and Mazandaran provinces each and 2 in Golestan province. The project was carried out following the ratifications of the high committee for sustainable utilization of sturgeons which passed through in 2001. Considering the results on factors like average caviar yield, quantity and quality of produced caviar, sex composition of caught spawners and catch per unit effort we found that the average caviar yield of Persian sturgeon in all three Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces was higher in spring catch than autumn and winter and in winter catch was higher than autumn while the amount of caviar obtained was higher in autumn. Considering sex composition percentage of mature female caught was higher in spring than other seasons. Catch stations located in Guilan and western and central Mazandaran showed almost similar condition. Spring catch from late march (last 10 days) up to the 10 th of May, autumn catch from late September and early October (23 September- 2 October) to the 1 st December, and winter catch from 1 st to 21 st march are suitable period for catch. At the Khazarabad catch station the suitable time of catch differs from other stations therefore the proper time for catch appears to be 10- 20 may in spring and 21- 30 January in winter catch seasons. The quality and quantity of catch is suitable in spring from 21- 31 march to 21- 31 may, in autumn catch from 12- 22 October to 11- 21 December and in winter catch from 9- 19 February to 11- 20 march at catch stations located in Golestan province. As for stellate sturgeon at catch stations of Guilan and Mazandaran provinces the spring catch from 21 march specially from 21 April to 20 June was suitable and all other quantitative and qualitative factors confirmed better quality and quantity of catch in this period (21 96 April- 20 June) in comparison to other seasons. Gill nets (lower in number as compared to other sturgeons) could be set up beginning from 20 February to 20 March in winter catch. Our study showed quantitative and qualitative increase in catch from 9- 19 April to the end of decade from 22-31 May suggesting a suitable time of catch for stellate sturgeon in Golestan province. Based on our quantitative and qualitative results the summer catch is not suitable for Persian sturgeon and stellate sturgeon and winter catch for stellate sturgeon.