Russia's total catch exceeds 3.2 million tons, with a focus on monitoring wild salmon populations in Kamchatka.
In the species structure, the Pacific cod remains the pillar species, with a catch of 1.55 million tons. Additionally, the Pacific herring recorded 359,600 tons, an increase of 55,700 tons compared to the same period last year; large flatfish and other flatfish species totaled 51,400 tons, unchanged from last year; and true cod recorded 86,200 tons, also showing a slight increase.
Other fishing areas performed as follows:
· Northern fishing area: 234,700 tons, including 128,700 tons of true cod and 41,800 tons of blackline cod;
· Western fishing area: 53,000 tons, mainly Baltic herring and small miscellaneous fish (anchovies, herring, roach, etc.);
· Azov-Black Sea fishing area: 30,400 tons, an increase of 9,300 tons year-on-year, including 12,600 tons of sand eel and 10,200 tons of small miscellaneous fish;
· Volga-Caspian Sea fishing area: 50,000 tons, an increase of 1,700 tons year-on-year, mainly small miscellaneous fish and estuarine economic fish;
· Russian distant waters and international waters: 348,500 tons, an increase of 10.1% year-on-year.
In the Far East's most important salmon production area, Kamchatka, researchers continue to establish fixed observation points in the Kamchatka River and Lake Azabachye to long-term track the dynamics of the sockeye salmon population. Lake Azabachye is home to Asia's second-largest sockeye salmon population, with population monitoring starting in 1963. Today, researchers use underwater sluices and sensors to accurately record each migratory individual, and through fish scale samples, water quality, and plankton analysis, they comprehensively assess its growth environment and resource status.
The Russian research team emphasizes that monitoring high-value salmon populations such as sockeye salmon is crucial. This not only helps to ensure the sustainable development of fisheries but also ensures that industry forecasts match the actual resource status, providing a scientific basis for adjusting fishing policies.