Author: (Eichwald, 1838)
FBname: Caspian shad
Comments: Schooling and migratory (Ref. 188); at sea, pelagic in coastal waters with steady current and avoids areas with stable salinity; migrates from sea to mouth of large rives and spawns in fresh- or slightly brackish-water at shallow sites washed by flow of large rivers.  Males migrate upriver at 2-3 years, females at 4-5; many individuals reproduce 2-4 seasons.  Two migration peaks, one in late April (mostly males), one in early May (mostly females), entering rivers when temperature rises above 10°C.  Spawns when temperature is at least 15°C, in May to June.  Spawning usually occurs in the upper 3 m.  Eggs semi-pelagic and demersal.  Spent fish migrate back to the sea; juveniles migrate to sea during first summer, remaining there until they mature.  Feeds mainly on zooplankton (copepods and mysids) when at sea (Ref. 59043).   Depending on the subspecies (10 subspecies known), some are semi-anadromous and spawn in fresh or slightly saline waters, mainly in the lower reaches, whereas others are practically marine and spawn in brackish or even fully saline oceanic waters.  One of the most warm-loving <i>Alosa</i> of the Caspian.  Only <i>A. a. caspia</i> of the Caspian Sea is of commercial importance (Ref. 188).