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¹ Russian Academy of Sciences, A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, MRO IBSS, Leninskii ave., 38/3, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v21_5_05 Viewed : 1998 - Downloaded : 1245 This paper is focused on the ichthyoplankton species composition and spatial distribution in the Black sea shelf zone and the deepwater regions off Crimean Peninsula and coast of the Caucasus during the spring hydrological season. Recent changes in the hydrological regime of the Black sea induced by the climate warming have led to an extension of the active and productive spawning of the dominant temperate-water species Sprattus sprattus until the end of the spring hydrological season. An intensive spawning of sprat was detected in March, April and May 2016, 2017 and 2019, which was confirmed by a predominance of younger age group larvae. The maximum number of eggs reached 224 ind./m2 , and the larvae - 116 ind./m2 . The wide size range of larvae as well as the low proportion of larvae with empty guts evidenced a favorable fodder base for their survival. The reduction in the age and sizeweight composition of sprat stock in the Black sea observed since 2016 as a result of an increase in its commercial fishing on the shelf of the Crimean Peninsula, did not affect sprat` spawning activity. Keywords : Ichthyoplankton, Species Composition, Spatial Distribution, Fish Larvae Feeding