Iraqi Journal of Aquaculture

This study was conducted in the water branches of Shatt Al-Arab
River. Water samples were collected from six stations during 2013.
Gas chromatography was used to identify the concentrations and
type of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total
concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water
ranged from 7.24 to 17.39 ng/l. The sources of PAHs in waters were
Pyrogenic and Petrogenic with predominance of etehahthNaN,
Fluoreneand B(b+ k) fluoranthene the most presence and focused
from PAHs compound which indicate a Pyrogenic, as well as
presents of Indeno (1,2,3,cd) pyrene+ dibenzo, Benzo(g, h, i)
perylene in high concentration which indicate a Petrogenic origin .
This study is a first of its kind in the branches of Shatt Al-Arab River
and its represent as a background for futures studies.

The effect of various stocking densities (20, 30, 40 fish/m3) on
the final weight, weight gain, specific growth and daily growth rates
in Arabian yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus arabicus) reared in
floating cages (2m3) was studied. The trials were performed in Faw
district Southern Basrah. Results indicate that stocking at 20 fish/m3
provide significant (P<0.05) final weight compared to individuals
cultivated at a density 30 and 40 fish/m3, while the final weights of
fish reared at a density of 30 and 40 fish/m3 didn't differ significantly
(P>0.05), the highest final weight (55.58±5.84g) attained at density
20 fish/m3, 52.13 ± 6.12 at 30 fish/m3 and (50.51± 6.98) at stocking
density 40 fish/m3. Statistically analysis showed that weight gain and
daily growth were significant differs (P<0.05) among treatments.
Specific growth rates and survival rates reveal no differences
significantly (P>0.05) depending on the stocking densities 20, 30
and 40 fish/m3.

The study was aimed to prepare artificial diets
from local ingredient to larvae and juveniles of Barbus
xanthopterus, in order to examine its ability to eat dry
food as a substitute to the expensive live food and
study its effects on survival and growth rates. Four
types of diets were processed to larvae which were:
standard artificial diet as a control T1, fish meal diet
T2, starter diet T4 and egg and milk mixture diet T3.
Two additional diets were used for juveniles as well as
the control diet which were crumbles and pellets.
Aquaria and cages were employed to culture fishes on
these diets. Results showed that larvae and juveniles
of B. xanthopterus had accepted the dry food and
showed a good survival and growth rates.
Barbus xanthopterus, artificial feed, complement feeding

The present study investigate the effect of injections of Recombinant
Human Growth Hormone (by LG® Life Sciences) on growth indicators of
common carp Cyprinus carpio (L. 1758) and red belly tilapia Tilapia zillii
(Gervais, 1848) and their muscles by injection of this hormone
intraperitoneally (IP) with three replicates for two doses low and high,
with 60 and 120 µg of human growth hormone/g Body weight respectively
for both species, along with a control of 120 µg of normal saline/g Body
weight. Then the changes were followed up in each treatment after every
two weeks to pursue histological changes in the muscular tissue by using
Cell Profiler software and measuring of growth indicators (specific growth
rate (SGR) and condition factor (Kn)). The results of the study revealed
that the maximum rate of percentages of the muscle fibers with area less
than 314 µm2 for region R1(Dorsal side) was 88.29% in carp in high dose
treatment after the eighth week of injection, while it was 88.00% for tilapia
in high dose treatment after the eighth week of injection, too. In the region
R2 (in tail) the maximum rate of percentages of muscle fibers with area
less than 314 µm2 was recorded after the eighth week from the beginning of
injection was 73.3553% for carp in high dose treatment and 85.935% for
tilapia in high dose treatment. The results showed that 1.00984 and
1.000074 were the highest and the lowest values of condition factor for
carp respectively. For tilapia those were 1.009993 and 1.000151 the highest
and the lowest values of it respectively. The rate of specific growth rate for
length was 0.3616 and 0.44866 cm/day% for carp and tilapia respectively.
While the specific growth rates for weight were higher than the comparable
one for length and were 1.3489 g/day% for carp and 1.6085 g/day% for
tilapia.

The design and implementation a recirculating
aquaculture system was discussed, which is considered to
be the first of its kind at Iraqi universities and research
centers that specialize in aquaculture. The system was
designed based on standard specifications and built from
materials available in local markets. The system consists
of 16 fiberglass tanks (each measuring approximately
75×75×45 cm with a capacity of roughly 250 L). We
showed that the new system maintained appropriate
environmental conditions for aquatic organisms during
the trial period. Moreover, this type of rearing system aids
in water conservation and keep on controlled experiment
condition.

Samples were collected seasonally from three stations (Al
Ashar, Abu Al-Khasib and Al-Faw) in the Shatt Al-Arab River by a
plankton net (85 μm mesh-size and 40 cm mouth aperture), from
January to November 2013. Some physical and chemical parameters
of the water were monitored such as, water temperature, salinity, pH,
dissolved oxygen, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and turbidity. The
density of Cladocera ranged between 0.0 ind/m3 during spring and
summer at Al-Faw station to 18922 ind/m3 during summer at Al
Ashar station. Five, two and one species of Cladocera were recorded
at the three stations, respectively. Moina affinis and Diaphanosoma
brachyurum were the dominant species at study area. Maximum
diversity index (H) (0.7) was obtained at stations 1 and 2 during
winter and spring respectively and higher evenness value (J) (0.4)
was recorded at station 1 and 2 during winter, while higher richness
(D) (6.1) was obtained at station 1 during winter and lowest value
(0.0) at station 3. Jaccard׳s index revealed higher similarity between
stations 1 & 2 and lower values between station 1 and 3.