On the importance of protecting fish resources during the spawning season

 

At the meeting of the council, Vladimir Belousov, PhD in Biology, Deputy Head of the Azov-Black Sea Branch of the State Research Center of the Russian Federation “All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography” (VNIRO), spoke with a report “On measures to protect fish resources during spawning in the reservoirs of the Rostov Region”.

 

Spawning is one of the most important periods in the life cycle of aquatic bioresources, ensuring the formation of their numbers. At the same time, this stage is the most vulnerable, since at this time the fish gather in significant clusters and react weakly to external stimuli, therefore they become most vulnerable to removal.

 

“The beginning of the spawning period is considered to be the transition of the temperature through the threshold of +8 +9 ⁰С. According to average long-term data, this period falls at the beginning of April. This year, despite the cold February, the threshold of spawning temperatures was reached already in the last ten days of March. Therefore, we are already observing the beginning of active fish migrations to the Don. In this regard, active fish conservation measures can be recommended to begin without waiting for April Fools' Day," Vladimir Nikolaevich emphasized in his speech.

 

One of the most important measures to preserve aquatic bioresources is the suppression of illegal extraction. Employees of the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO take an active part in conducting ichthyological examinations of illegal fishing gear and illegally extracted aquatic bioresources. In this area, the branch interacts with law enforcement agencies of 10 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. This year, research has already been conducted within the framework of 107 open criminal and administrative cases, including 64 in the Rostov Region.

 

Vladimir Nikolaevich separately focused on high-tech genetic examinations, which are carried out by scientists of the branch. "These examinations are aimed at determining the species of black caviar or sturgeon products. In total, 81 such examinations were conducted in 2024 and 16 examinations since the beginning of 2025," the speaker noted.

 

VNIRO Press Service