المملكة: Launching the first national program to propagate and reintroduce freshwater fish in Saudi Arabia

The National Center for the Development of Wildlife The first specialized national program for the propagation and reintroduction of freshwater fish in King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and targets two endangered species, the Arabian bream and the Arabian bream, as part of national efforts to protect biodiversity and enhance the sustainability of fungal species.

The program’s work began by collecting samples of Arabian bream from selected sites in the Khyber Valley, which included the historic Al-Thamd Dam and one of the ponds in Wadi Al-Ghars, following the implementation of a field reconnaissance study to determine the locations of the clusters and the logistical needs necessary for the collection operations. And transportation.

Accurate genetic analyses

The center indicated that remote sensing techniques contributed to identifying more than 21 important sites for the species’ presence, which were classified as permanent sites, while field teams faced challenges related to the difficulty of reaching some rugged sites, in addition to ensuring that fish are transported alive over long distances while maintaining appropriate temperatures and flow rates.

The center stated that the program relies on an integrated scientific system that begins with collecting broodstock from their environments. Natural resources, conducting accurate genetic analyzes to assess genetic diversity, passing through the development of breeding and feeding protocols in captivity by controlling the physical and chemical properties of water, employing modern technologies to increase survival and growth rates, and ending with the establishment of incubation and early breeding systems that ensure the readiness of individuals for the release stage.

He added that the program also includes evaluating the sites targeted for release, and implementing long-term monitoring programs to measure the success of the resettlement operations and the response of ecosystems, in addition to establishing a specialized national freshwater fish hatchery at the center. Prince Saud Al-Faisal in Taif Governorate, which supports the sustainability of breeding and resettlement programs in the long term.

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