Study of Shovier and Mirzakhanlo dam reservoirs in Zanjan province in order to aquaculture activity

Inland water aquaculture activity have been known as an important approach for protein production while reservoir lakes recognized to have a significant potential for this purpose. Zanjan province in Iran with several dam reservoirs is suitable for aquaculture development. This study was conducted on biotic and abiotic factors of two lakes Shovir and Mirzakhanlo in order to determine aquaculture potentially of reservoirs. This two lakes located on different climatic region; Shovir located in region of semi arid area with very cold weather in winter, while Mirzakhanlo is in semi humid area and warm weather characteristic. In this study the plankton, benthos and fishes were assessed and the 15 hydrochemical factors were measured in order to determine the fisheries potential for fish introduction or release. The results showed that the phytoplankton abundance of Mirzakhanlo varied between 1.6 to 45.2 million cell/l. with 32 identified genus. The zooplankton abundance varied between 48 to 632 n/l. and 22 identified genus. The abundance plankton in shovir varied between 1.350 to 34.2 million cell/l. and 240 to 4500 n/l. for phyto and zooplankton respectively. Macrobenthos biomass were 21.4 and 0.34 g/m^2 in Shovir and Mirzakhanlo lakes respectively while Chironomidae and Tubificidae families were dominant groups. The lake sediment organic matter were 4.3 and 3.2 % respectively. In ichtiology survey identified 5 and 7 species in Mirzakhanlo and Shovir lakes respectively. The hydro-chemical results indicated no restriction for aquaculture activity and according to trophic model both lakes are recognized as meso-eutrophic and eutrophic. Despite of climatic restrictions, the potential for fish production was estimated about 321 and 151 kg/ha for Shovir and Mirzakhanlo lakes respectively that can be improved by using agricultural and the other native facilities