MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AS A TOOL FOR THE CONSERVATION OF FISH GENETIC RESOURCES AT THE NUCET FISH FARMING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STATION

Marinela GANCEA¹*, Mariana Cristina ARCADE¹, Mioara COSTACHE¹, Silvia RADU¹, Nicoleta Georgeta DOBROTA¹, Nino MARICA¹, Alin Constantin BARBU¹, Angelica DOBRE²

¹Research and Development Station for Fish Farming (Aquaculture) Nucet, Nucet village, Principală Street, no. 549, Dâmbovița County, Romania

²Research and Development Institute for Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Galați, Romania

email: gancea.marinela@statiuneapiscicolanucet.ro

Keywords: aquaculture, conservation of genetic resources, gene bank, overwintering, parameter monitoring

Abstract

The conservation of fish genetic resources is a major priority in modern aquaculture research, particularly in the context of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on aquatic ecosystems. The Nucet Fish Farming Research and Development Station (SCDP Nucet) manages one of the most important fish gene pools in Romania, which includes species of economic and scientific value (such as Cyprinus carpio or the sturgeon Polyodon spathula). The research focuses on the operational management of wintering ponds, where water acts as a thermal and physiological protective environment, essential for the survival of the experimental stocks. Monitoring was conducted in two experimental ponds (HC1 Ilfov and HC1 Sterp) over two consecutive cold seasons (November 2024–March 2025 and November 2025–March 2026). Parameters such as air and water temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, and key nutrient indicators (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) were monitored. The results obtained highlight the maintenance of stable conditions in the aquatic environment during the wintering period, with most of the analyzed indicators falling within ranges considered favorable for farmed fish species.

High concentrations of dissolved oxygen, combined with low water temperatures, contributed to maintaining optimal conditions for the survival of the biological material. The research findings underscore the importance of continuously monitoring water quality parameters in order to maintain the stability of aquatic ecosystems and conserve valuable fish genetic resources within the SCDP Nucet gene bank.

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Received:31 March 2026, Revised:30 April 2026, Accepted: 15 August 2026,  Published: 28 August 2026

Citation

GANCEA, M., Arcade, M. C., COSTACHE, M., RADU, S., DOBROTA, N. G., MARICA, N., BARBU, A. C., & Dobre, A. (2026). MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AS A TOOL FOR THE CONSERVATION OF FISH GENETIC RESOURCES AT THE NUCET FISH FARMING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STATION. Pescuitul și Acvacultura (Fishing and Aquaculture), 3(5), 122–136. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22141973