The senior researcher of the aquaculture laboratory of the head division of the Scientific and Production Center of Fisheries LLP, Bulavina N.B., together with the senior researcher of the Atyrau branch Demisinova G.T. and the chief fish breeder of the Ural-Atyrau Sturgeon Plant, Zulkasheva M.A., carried out work on the basis of the plant to develop methods for monitoring the quality of the produced juvenile sturgeon fish.

In the course of the work, 2 methods were worked out for evaluating the produced juvenile sturgeon fish:

• 1. Teratological analysis;
• 2. Assessment of adaptive qualities of juveniles by reactions of the central nervous system.

When working out the teratological analysis of juvenile fish, the examination was carried out for the following indicators:

• – body shape abnormalities (head shape change, body curvature, underdevelopment/presence of additional fins);
• – anomalies of the structure of external organs (absence of eyes, curvature of the snout, etc.).

The percentage of occurrence of anomalies was low, the method of inspection used is not complicated, this allows us to recommend this technique for use at a sturgeon plant, since it is possible to evaluate the entire batch of fish being stocked from a sample.

When working out the method for assessing the adaptive qualities of juveniles by the reactions of the central nervous system (the “open field” test), the severity of the reaction of juveniles from the test sample to various stimuli (light and sound of different frequencies) was determined.

The application of the method makes it possible to assess the level of motor activity of juveniles, their reactivity to external stimuli (visual, tactile, hydrodynamic), their suitability for survival in the natural environment.

This method revealed high adaptive qualities of juvenile sturgeon fish produced from the Ural-Atyrau Sturgeon Plant.

These works were carried out within the framework of the PCF program: “Scientific and technological support for the integrated development of aquaculture in Kazakhstan through the development and implementation of innovative technologies and new fish farming facilities”.