Length-Weight relationship and fecundity of Persian Sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) female broodstocks along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea

Length-weight relationships and fecundity of 93 individual female Acipenser persicus broodstocks were investigated. The specimens were caught during 2001-2005 from Golestan, Mazandaran and Guilan provinces along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Total length and weight of each fish was measured to the nearest 1cm and 100 g, respectively. Age determination was carried out by using transects of the first ray of pectoral fin. The absolute fecundity was assessed by egg count per weight unit of all eggs existed in the body. The specimens were from 13 to 20 years old, of which the 16 years old had the highest proportion with 23.7%. Range of total length and weight were 132.5 to 211 cm and 14 to 42 kg, respectively. Mean absolute fecundity was estimated 267810 ± 92570. Total length, weight and absolute fecundity of fish increased with age in all cases, showed a significant positive correlation (p