Maturation and artificial fertilization of eggs of captive common wolf fish, Anarhichas lupus L. from the White Sea

Abstract. A stock of mature common wolffish, Anarhichas lupus L., were kept in tanks at the surface temperature in the sea and at a lowered temperature. At temperatures of 5–8C in August and September all females matured. The fertilization rate of the eggs was studied in relation to various aspects of the fertilization procedure including sperm concentration, the duration of the contact of eggs with the sperm and the time of exposure of the gametes outside of the body of spawners. The maximum fertilization rate was attained at sperm concentrations not less than 1.0 times 10⁶ per ml and when eggs were exposed to sperm for 1–2h. Fertilization of eggs in a narrow cylindrical vessel improved the efficiency of fertilization, with rates of up to 80–95%. Features of the fertilization of eggs of the wolffish are discussed in relation to the reproductive biology of the species.