During the autumn fishing season, scientific research work continues on the watercourses and reservoirs of the Astrakhan region

 

The autumn fishing season in the modern period gives about 2/5 of the catches in the region per year. At this time of year, a large proportion of pike perch, asp and catfish are noted in the catches.

 

The observations covered the main water areas in the fishing zone above the city of Astrakhan, in the western and eastern parts of the Volga delta and in the estuary part of the Caspian Sea - the Volga delta front.

 

The expeditions involved 3 research vessels (m/v "Raskat", R/V "Daphnia" and "KS-36"). At the fishing grounds and fish receiving stations, the research staff collected information on catches, fishing intensity, conducted a full biological analysis and mass measurements of aquatic bioresources from the catches of seines, secrets and nets. On the vessel m/v "Raskat", in addition to collecting ichthyological material, water and bottom sediment samples were collected for hydrological-hydrochemical and ecological-toxicological studies, and the quality of water and bottom sediments was assessed using the biotesting method. On the research vessel "Daphnia", material was also collected on the epizootic situation and the quality of aquatic bioresources. During the voyages along the route of the vessel, a route count of amateur fishermen was carried out. The species composition of the analyzed commercial catches is diverse and is represented by such species as catfish, carp, pike-perch, bream, pike, crucian carp, white bream, asp, rudd, perch, herbivorous fish species, etc. In the coastal fishing zone in the west of the delta front, the catches of secrets consisted mainly of crucian carp, the share of catfish and carp was approximately 20% each, the share of pike-perch is low - no more than 15%. In the east, catfish and crucian carp predominated in secrets, the share of pike, carp and pike-perch is no more than 15% of each species, there are single bream, rudd, perch, white bream, asp. In seine catches in the east of the Volga delta, crucian carp predominates up to 60%, the share of asp catch has increased to 30%, catfish, pike-perch, and single bream are also caught. In the western part of the delta, increased catches of pike perch in seines began to be noted from the third ten-day period of September. In the upper fishing zone, the share of pike perch in the seine reached 70%, with large specimens of 60 cm and more encountered, crucian carp, asp, bream, and herbivorous fish were caught in the catches.

 

Research work in the fishing grounds will continue until the end of the fishing season in order to assess the state of stocks, the dynamics of pre-winter migrations, and the distribution of aquatic biological resources.

 

Press service of VNIRO