Distribution of larvae and localization of spawning stocks of sarin herring Alosa braschnikowi sarensis (Michailowskaja, 1941) in the southwestern Caspian Sea

The patterns of distribution of larvae of the sarin herring Alosa braschnikowi sarensis in coastal and open waters in the southwestern part of the Caspian Sea have been studied based on materials of the ichthyoplankton surveys conducted in July to August 2010–2012. Each year, three isolated accumulations were observed in the southwestern part of the Caspian Sea: one accumulation was recorded in the area of Sara Peninsula and Kura Spit, the second accumulation was recorded near islands of the Baku Archipelago and Cape Pirsagat, and the third accumulation was recorded in Lenkoran raion. It is suggested that these accumulations appeared as a result of spawning of three independent groups of sarin herring in isolated regions of the southwestern Caspian Sea.