Application of SWOT-FAHP model for assessment of the restoration trend of Caspian kutum (Rutilus kutum) stocks in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

The restoration program of Caspian kutum (Mahi Sefid) stocks was carried out by the Iranian Fisheries Organization about four decades ago, following its catch reduction in the early of the last century. Despite releasing about 150 million juveniles annually, the catch has always fluctuated and the average catch has never exceeded 10,000 tons. In addition, expected diversity and biomarkers in newly released stocks, such as length and weight, and growth and reproduction indices have also declined. In the present study, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the program for breeding and release of Mahi Sefid in the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea have been investigated using the SWOT-FAHP method. The results show that although strengths outweigh weaknesses that the biological, social and economic values of Caspian kutum and the existence of specialized hatcheries with the presence of experienced experts are the most important strengths. In contrast, the threat points outweigh opportunities, and in general it can be acknowledged that this situation requires strategies to reduce threats. Therefore, strategies to improve the process of rebuilding Caspian kutum stocks were developed and prioritized by the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM), which among the identified strategies, contingent (conservative) strategies have the highest score, and accordingly, providing and strengthening breeding infrastructure, especially Natural reproduction in migratory rivers, participation of non-governmental organizations in the protection of local rivers, use of equipment of hatcheries and reconstruction of reserves and updating of worn-out equipment in order to continue the process of artificial reproduction due to pollution and destructive factors in some Rivers, gene bank formation, implementation of breeding program and application of research results on the time frame of fishing and standardization of fishing equipment, scored the most points among contingency strategies.