STUDY ON THE MAINTENANCE STATUS AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF PONTIC SHAD ALOSA IMMACULATA (BENNET, 1835) DURING MIGRATION

Viorica Savin, Elena Mocanu, N. Patriche, Magdalena Tenciu, C. Savin, Desimira Stroe, D. Popa, Georgiana Năstase

Abstract
   In Romania, Pontic shad (Alosa immaculata) is a fish with a high commercial value, with an average annual catch of 200-500 tons, according to ANPA statistics. The shad meat is appreciated for its fine taste, but also for its fat, which is made up of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The aim of this study is to bring new data on biological parameters, maintenance status and biochemical composition of Pontic shad (A. immaculata), during the period of maximum migration (April), on the Danube section the river mouth, where it flows into the Black Sea, and the point km 197, in Braila county. The samples were taken from 3 different points: St. Gheorghe arm (station 1), Isaccea village, Tulcea county at km 103 of the Danube (station 2) and Chiscani village, Braila county at km 197 of the Danube’s mouth (station 3). The age of fish ranged from 3 to 5 years. The most abundant specimens are groups aged 3 years (40%) and 4 years (36%). The gender structure of catches is represented by 53% females and 47% males. The Fulton condition factor had values between 1,13 and 1,28, with the highest value at the beginning of the migration, in the area of the St. Gheorghe arm (1,28) and the lowest value (1,13) at 197 km from the Danube’s mouth, in the intermediate area, at km 103 the value being 1,15. The percentages of lipids in the meat of the Pontic shad taken from stations 2 and 3 were relatively equal, of 17,62%, respectively 17,65%, the highest value being registered in station 1, at St. Gheorghe, where the value was 18,60%. The percentage of proteins for the biological material from Station 1 – St. Gheorghe was 0.4% lower than that of the samples taken from Station 2 - Isaccea, km 130 and 0.85% lower than that from Station 3 - Chiscani, km 197, the differences being insignificant (P> 0.05).