Economics Analysis of Stock Enhancement of Sturgeon Fingerling in the Caspian Sea

Abstract

Several factors cause decline in aquatic stocks. They could be listed as, irregular fishing, damaging aquatic habitats, dam constraction, sand explotation from river bed, oil pullution, industrial, agricultural and domestic pullotion. To overcome such condition, the hatcheries are constracted to produce fingerlings for stock enhancement, new species introduction and biodiversity preservation. This study with economical look, could present a developing policy for increasing the productivity and breeding procedure of sturgeon in Iran, which needs a huge investment. Over the years 2001-2002, to determine the costs of production of a single sturgeon fingerling in Iran, two questionnaires were prepared. An expert trained team comprising of economist, statistician and aquaculturist completed the questionnaire, while reffering all sturgeon centers. For more accuracy, they reffered to documents available in different sections of Shilat, specially, accounting, budgeting and stock enhancement offices. Among various expenditures, cost of labour with 55% and 56% and costs of feed and fertiliser with 14% and 10% have the greatest share, maintenance with 7% and 8% and fertilization eggs with 6% were the important factors. Results shaw, an average cost of production of a single sturgeon fingerling in Iran, was Rls. 992, and Rls. 937 over the 2001-2002. Shahid Rajaee center, had the lowest cost of production of Rls. 477 and Rls. 471 and Shahid Beheshty had the highest cost of production of Rls. 1224 and Rls. 1438 among the all sturgeon breeding centers. The cost of labour had a great share in total expenditures, it could be justify by unactivity of centers during almost 6 months off season, which could be reduced by adopting extra activities such as production of broodstocks, caviar and market-size sturgeon fish in hatcheries.