Ichthyoplankton survey launched in the Sea of ​​Azov

 

For ten days, a team of scientists from the Azov-Black Sea branch of the Russian State Research Center of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) will conduct ichthyoplankton, zooplankton and complex oceanographic surveys. The expedition involves specialists from various scientific fields: ichthyologists, hydrologists and hydrochemists.

 

To date, the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO is the only scientific organization that has been conducting complex studies of aquatic bioresources in the waters of the Azov Sea and Taganrog Bay for over 90 years. During this time, a huge amount of information has been collected on commercial stocks, the state of aquatic organisms and key characteristics of the aquatic environment.

 

The scientific material obtained during this cruise will allow us to assess the intensity and effectiveness of reproduction of spring-spawning fish species (tulka, mullet, silverside, turbot) and the state of the food supply for summer-spawning species (anchovy).

 

The peak of reproduction of spring-spawning species occurs at the end of May. At this time, it is possible to obtain the most complete information on the state of their natural reproduction and the scale of spawning. "The data collected during the research will allow us to assess the prospects for the development of commercial fish populations for the next 1-2 years," explains the head of the scientific cruise, Roman Nadolinsky, chief specialist of the Azov Sea fish laboratory of the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO.

 

During the expeditionary research, specialists of the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO will collect ichthyoplankton to study its species composition, distribution and quantitative characteristics. The standard grid of stations will be used to study water parameters such as salinity and temperature, transparency and color. Scientists will also assess the state of the sea surface, the direction and speed of the current, and analyze the fish food supply.

 

The results of the expedition will allow us to assess the efficiency of reproduction of commercial fish species, the state of their food supply and habitat, and also to forecast their stocks.

 

VNIRO Press Service