Black sea sprat, Caspian sea sprat, Azov kilka, common kilka, tyulka, Azov sea sprat, Clupea cultriventris (Nordmann, 1840), C. delicatula (Nordmann, 1840), Clupeonella caspia (Svetovidov, 1941), Clupeonella delicatula (Nordmann, 1840), Clupeonella tscharchalensis (Borodin, 1896).

Nonindigenous Occurrences: It has been recorded in the Pripyat River basin, Belarus in 1986 (Semenchenko et al. 2009). In Russia, C. cultriventris was reported in the Rybinsk Reservoir in 1994 (Khalko 2007). It has populated the lower reaches of the Kama River in 1963-1966 (Mordukhai-Boltovskoi 1979). It had been first recorded in the 1950s in the Kuybyshev Reservoir in the late 1950s and had naturalized by the mid-1960s (Slynko et al. 2002). Clupeonella cultriventris occurs in the deltas and lagoons of the Dniester, Danube, Dnieper, Don, Kuban, Volga, and Ural rivers, and its expansion into these regions has been attributed to the construction of reservoirs (Kiyashko et al. 2006). It dominates fish communities in the Sheksna Reservoir up to Beloye Lake, above which they are limited by low temperature and food availability (Kiyashko et al. 2012). After the late 1980s, C. cultriventris completely colonized the Uglich and Ivan’kov reservoirs of the Volga River within the span of 12 years. It is found in the Mediterranean Sea (Lleonart 2005), but it is not known whether it is nonindigenous there.

Potential pathway(s) of introduction: Transoceanic shipping (ballast water)

Clupeonella cultriventris is native to the Ponto-Caspian region (Fazli et al. 2007). The most likely means of introduction is through ships ballast. However, this species is not known to hitchhike or foul vessels. Clupeonella cultriventris is not stocked, commercially cultured, or sold in the Great Lakes region. It may be able to survive ballast tank environments due to its high salinity tolerance. Although it occurs in waters from which shipping traffic to the Great Lakes originates, it does not currently occur in ports that have direct trade connections with the Great Lakes. Clupeonella cultriventris has not been observed in ballast tanks of ships entering the Great Lakes.

In systems where C. cultriventis is non-native, introductions have occurred by human mediated transport and natural dispersion.  In the Rybinsk Reservoir, C. cultriventris has been locally introduced to the Dneiper, Volga, and Kama rivers after the construction of dams (Kiyashko et al. 2006). It has not been introduced further north towards the Volga-Baltic canal system due to climatic restraints (Kiyashko et al. 2012).

Clupeonella cultriventris has a moderate probability of establishment if introduced to the Great Lakes (Confidence level: High).

This Ponto-Caspian clupeid fish is identified as having high probability of establishment if introduced to the Great Lakes (Ricciardi and Rasmussen 1998; Kolar and Lodge 2002; U.S. EPA 2008).

The native and introduced ranges of C. cultriventris have similar climatic and abiotic conditions as the Great Lakes (Reid and Orlova 2002; Grigorovich et al. 2003; US EPA 2008). It occurs in waters with temperatures of 2.6–26°C and is oxyphilic (Aseinova 2003); thus this species is somewhat likely to overwinter in the Great Lakes, but its ability to do so is limited by the dissolved oxygen level.  If introduced, it is probable that C. cultriventris will find an appropriate food source of copepods and cladocerans. Clupeonella cultriventris has a flexible diet and can likely adapt to zooplankton communities in the Great Lakes (Fazli et al. 2007). In its native range, C. cultriventris is eaten by piscivorous fish such as salmon and sturgeons (Karimzadeh 2011). Lake sturgeon and several types of salmon are present in the Great Lakes (Roth et al. 2013). Lake sturgeon is a benthic feeder and occurs in the Great Lakes in low abundances (Hayes and Caroffina 2012), so it is unlikely to prey on this species. Other piscivores present in the Great Lakes may also prey on C. cultriventris. Clupeonella cultriventris has a shorter breeding season than bigeye kilka (Clupeonella grimmi), which reproduces year round (Karimzadeh et al. 2010). The fecundity of C. cultriventris may be greater in fresh waters such as the Great Lakes.

Clupeonella cultriventris dominated pelagic fish communities of the Volga and Sheksna reservoirs (Slynko et al. 2002) and continues to spread northwards as average water temperatures rise with the progression of climate change (Kiyashko et al. 2006). The lack of competitors and low predation pressure in these reservoirs as well as eutrophication, retarded flow, and the creation of habitats suitable for pelagic fish may have contributed to their spread and dominance in the fish communities. The dominance of this species in the reservoirs of the Volga River may have suppressed native fish populations (Mordukhai-Boltovskoi 1979b; Ricciardi and Rasmussen 1998). In locations where C. cultriventris is very abundant, its diet is similar to the diets of native species, with a feeding similarity index greater than 50% (Kiyashko et al. 2007). On the other hand, where this species is less numerous, its feeding similarity with native species is less than 40%.

Models predicted that C. cultriventris will spread at a fast rate and have negative impacts if introduced (Kolar and Lodge 2002). The spread of this species throughout the Dniester, Danube, Dnieper, Don, Kuban, Volga, and Ural rivers is thought to be facilitated by the construction of reservoirs (Kiyashko et al. 2006). Clupeonella cultriventris completely colonized the Uglich and Ivan’kov Rivers within a span of 12 years and had an average expansion rate of 60 km/year in the Volga river basin, spreading 2800 km in 35 years (Slynko and Kiyashko 2012).

Biological similarities between Clupeonella cultriventris and the already established and invasive alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) may result in a similar likelihood of establishment and impact in the Great Lakes (Riccardi and Rasmussen 1998).

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Environmental	Beneficial

It dominates pelagic fish communities in the Volga and Sheksna reservoirs (Slynko et al. 2002). The dominance of C. cultriventris in the Volga may have suppressed native coregonid populations (Mordukhai-Boltovskoi 1979b; Ricciardi and Rasmussen 1998). Introduced in early 1960’s and 1970’s, C. cultriventris became superdominant (65-99% of catch) in the Ukranian Dneprodzerzhinsk and Kremenchug reservoirs, replacing bleak (Alburnus alburnus) and common roach (Rutilus rutilus) and have maintained dominant population levels for at least 40 years (Tereschenko et al. 2015). Clupeonella cultriventris may compete with other planktivorous pelagic fish if it attains a large population in the Great Lakes, similar to the effects of the already established Alewife (Ricciardi and Rasmussen 1998). In locations where C. cultriventris is very abundant, its diet is similar to the diets of native species, with a feeding similarity index greater than 50% (Kiyashko et al. 2007). However, where this species is less numerous, its feeding similarity with native species is less than 40%.

There is little or no evidence to support that Clupeonella cultriventris has the potential for significant socio-economic impacts if introduced to the Great Lakes.

Clupeonella cultriventris is a known host to Anisakis schupakovi parasite which can cause anisakis disease in humans who consume undercooked and infected fish (Abdyekova et al. 2020).

Clupeonella cultriventris has the potential for moderate beneficial impact if introduced to the Great Lakes.

This species is one of the most abundant fish in the Caspian Sea, is a commercially valuable species (Fazli et al. 2007), and is preyed on by commercially valuable fish such as sturgeon and salmon (Karimzadeh 2011). Lake sturgeon occurs in the Great Lakes and is listed as threatened in Michigan (Roth et al. 2013). However, increasing the amount of food available for lake sturgeon may not contribute to their conservation; they are threatened due to overfishing and declining habitat quality rather than the lack of food. In addition, the Lake Sturgeon is a benthic feeder (Hayes and Caroffino 2012), so there is a possibility that it will not feed on the pelagic C. cultriventris. Native fishes in the Great Lakes (i.e. pike Esox lucius) may use C. cultriventris as forage fish, but the extent to which is unknown (Gerasimov et al. 2018).

It is an important source of protein and income for people living near the Caspian Sea, and is smoked and readily available at fish markets (Karimzadeh et al. 2010; Faralizadeh et al. 2016). Clupeonella cultriventris is relatively difficult to eat fresh, as it oxidizes quickly and has many small bones and scales. However, it is highly valuable for prepared commercial food and animal feed due to its high gel strength, protein content, and amino acids, and can be sold as surimi, burgers, cutlets, and sausages (Shabanpour et al. 2015). A study of food products made with C. cultriventris revealed that there is no risk of heavy metal contamination (Dadar et al. 2017; Sobhanardakani et al. 2018).

The intestines of  C. cultriventris contain concentrations of trypsin similar to other less abundant fish in the Ponto-Caspian region. Trypsin is an enzyme used in cheese ripening, meat flavoring and tenderizing, and cell culturing for diabetes therapies, making them a valuable species to harvest for its extraction (Zamani et al. 2017).

Their flesh is broken down via hydrolysis and is a novel source of antioxidative peptides, proteins and amino acids that can be used as dietary additives to increase human health and the quality of animal feed (Hosseini et al. 2018; Mahdabi et al. 2018). The flesh can also be used to generate antimicrobial and antihypertensive agents as food additives (Qara and Nafaji 2018).

*Ballast water regulations applicable to this species are currently in place to prevent the introduction of nonindigenous species to the Great Lakes via shipping. See Title 33: Code of Federal Regulations, Part 151, Subparts C and D (33 CFR 151 C) for the most recent federal ballast water regulations applying to the Great Lakes and Hudson River.

Note: Check federal, state/provincial, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Control
Biological
There are no known biological control methods for this species.

Physical
There are no known physical control methods for this species.

Chemical

There are no known chemical control methods specific to this species. General piscicides (such as rotenone) may be used for control, but expect significant kill of non-target species.

Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.