The project, "Investigation of the Effects of Frozen Sperm on Hatching Efficiency and Embryo and Larval Stages in the Artificial Breeding of Black Sea Trout (Salmo trutta labrax) During Off-Season," by Prof. Dr. Yusuf Bozkurt, a faculty member in our university's Faculty of Fisheries, has been awarded funding by the TÜBİTAK-1001 Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.

This project, which will implement significant research in the field of aquaculture, is crucial for the sustainable breeding of Turkey's endemic fish species and the preservation of their genetic diversity. The project aims to preserve the genes of Black Sea trout, a critical biological genetic resource in Turkey and at risk of extinction, by cryopreserving them in semen form and enabling off-season artificial insemination.

The project will examine the effects of semen frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor at -196°C on off-season breeding processes after thawing. The incubation period, embryo development, and larval performance will be examined in detail.

The findings from the research are expected to make significant contributions to ensuring year-round production continuity in the aquaculture sector and reducing pressure on natural populations.