Employees of the Pskov branch of VNIRO completed the 2024 research season on Lake Peipus-Pskov

 

Hydrochemical and hydrobiological samples were collected at 10 standard stations of the longitudinal hydrological section of Lake Peipus in the Russian part of the water area.

 

In addition, hydrobiological samples (phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrozoobenthos) were collected monthly at the same stations. The general state of the food supply of benthophagous fish in Lake Peipus in 2024 is at a high level, which is confirmed by the high growth rate and other biological indicators of benthophagous fish, primarily bream.

 

The past season was characterized by a prolonged warm autumn. Thus, if the summer temperatures of Lakes Pskov and Peipus, in general, corresponded to their average long-term values, then in September and October 2024 there was an abnormally warm period, due to which the processes of cooling of water masses slowed down significantly. Such a temperature regime significantly increases the duration of the biological "autumn", which contributes to an increase in the fish productivity of the reservoir. At the same time, it should be noted that such processes can negatively affect the reproduction processes of autumn-spawning oxyphilic fish species - whitefish and vendace, which reduces the chances of the emergence of productive generations.

 

Comprehensive ichthyological studies on the Peipus-Pskov reservoir made it possible to obtain data on the size-weight and sex-age composition of populations of the main commercial fish species. Clarifications were made of the stocks and the amount of the total permissible catch of the main commercial fish species.

 

Press service of VNIRO