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Ribogospod. nauka Ukr., 2026; 1(75): 115-133
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61976/fsu2026.01.115
UDC 639.5:595.384

Received: 20.01.2026
Received in revised form: 23.02.2026
Published: 31.03.2026

The role of artificial cultivation in the restoration of natural populations of the white Dniester crayfish (Pontastacus eichwaldi bessarabicus Brodsky, 1967)

P. Shekk, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID ID 0000-0002-2789-0854, I.I. Mechnikov Odesa National University, Odesa
R. Sydorak, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID ID 0000-0002-4973-5804, Institute of Fisheries of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv

Purpose. To substantiate the importance and assess the effectiveness of artificial technologies for growing white Dniester crayfish (Pontastacus eichwaldi bessarabicus Brodsky, 1967) for the preservation and restoration of natural populations based on the results of stocking grown juveniles into Lake Kugurluy.

Methodology. The material for the study was grown juvenile crayfish obtained in the conditions of a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) as well as juveniles of a similar age from the natural population of Lake Kugurluy (control). During the growing process, combined feeds were used and the stocking density was adjusted depending on their age and size. The quality of stocking material was assessed by survival, morphometric parameters and the absence of pathologies and damage. Before release, the juvenile was acclimatized, after which they were stocked into the isolated water area of ​​Lake Kugurluy with the presence of natural shelters and sufficient food supply; further field monitoring of the abundance, spatial distribution and growth dynamics was carried out.

Findings. Under RAS conditions it is possible to obtain viable crayfish seeds with high survival rates and a minimal share of damaged individuals. Stocking of grown juveniles into an isolated area of ​​the lake ensured the formation of adaptation mechanisms to the natural environment, their preservation during the observation period, and an increase in the density of juveniles in the introduction areas compared to the control areas. The obtained “weight-length” relationships for artificially grown and natural juveniles were close, which indicated a normal growth pattern after their transition to the natural environment.

Originality. The combination of controlled cultivation in RAS with subsequent targeted stocking ensures high viability of juveniles and contributes to the formation of denser local communities in the stocked water body.

Practical Value. The developed biotechnological techniques ensure the production of viable white Dniester crayfish seeds for mass stocking into water bodies. The proposed transportation and release method increase the survival of individuals and contributes to the formation of stable populations. The results obtained can be used in reproduction programs, environmental protection practices and aquaculture development, which is important for preserving biodiversity and ecological balance of the Dniester basin.

Keywords: artificial cultivation, crayfish seeds, stocking, population recovery, aquaculture.

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