Economic efficiency of the artificial production of ovulated sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758) eggs with the combined use of industrial technologies

Purpose. To determine major parameters of the economic efficiency of the artificial production of ovulated sterlet eggs at non-traditional terms with the use of brood fish reared in the conditions of floating cages. Methodology. The calculations were conducted according to the methods generally accepted in economics. For the economic analysis, we used actual numbers of business activities at the industrial aquaculture of Ukraine, in particular, SRP “Osetr” LLC (Kyiv region) during the period of 2016-2017. The study was conducted using a fish farm producing 500 kg of ovulated sterlet eggs as an example. The structure of the analyzed production costs with the assessment of enterprise profitability supposes a full cycle of fish culture processes on rearing and exploiting of brood sterlet with the combined use of modern industrial aquaculture methods. Findings. The highest (more than 50%) share in the structure of production costs of the investigated sturgeon farm is labor compensation and costs of the purchase of high quality combined sturgeon feeds. The payoff period of a sturgeon farm producing 500 kg of ovulated sterlet eggs with the rearing of brood fish in the conditions of floating cages in a water body with natural temperature regime and artificial production of mature eggs and sperm with the use of recirculating aquaculture system was found to be no less than 6-7 years. The profitability level of fish farms of this type can exceed 40%. The ways of increasing the profitability of sturgeon farms of industrial type have been determined. Originality. The parameters of economic efficiency of the technology of rearing brood fish and artificial production of mature eggs and sperm with the use of non-traditional methods of sturgeon rearing in Ukraine have been analyzed for the first time. Practical value. The results of the study are of interest for the development of industrial aquaculture in Ukraine and assessment of performance indicators of caviar production in intensive sturgeon culture.