In the middle of the period, the gradient zone over the Sea of Okhotsk will remain. In the south of Kamchatka, the wind will increase to 10-12 m/s, in other fishing areas, storm conditions with wind gusts of up to 10-15 m/s will continue to be observed. At the end of the period, the depression will gradually move to the northeast. In the south of Kamchatka, a moderate wind of 5-10 m/s will prevail, in the north of the shelf and in the central areas of the Sea of Okhotsk, a storm wind of up to 15 m/s should be expected. In the following days, the wind speed in all areas will weaken to 5-10 m/s.
During the past week, according to satellite monitoring, no noticeable increase in the total area of the cover is noted. According to preliminary calculations, the total ice area for the first ten days of February is 40%, which corresponds to the historical minimum. A cold air mass from the north periodically spread over the western and northwestern regions of the sea. As a result, the ice concentration in the western part of the sea increased.
According to the Federal Agency for Fisheries’ industry monitoring system (Federal Center for Fisheries Monitoring) as of February 16, 2025, the growing pollock catch since the beginning of the current year in the West Bering Sea zone is 28.3 thousand tons, in the Karaginsky subzone - 14.1 thousand tons, in the Petropavlovsk-Komandorsky subzone - 27.3 thousand tons, in the North Kuril zone - 30.3 thousand tons, in the South Kuril zone - 10.1 thousand tons, in four fishing subzones of the Sea of Okhotsk - 288.7 thousand tons.
As part of the scientific support for the Sea of Okhotsk fishing season, work continues to collect biostatistical and fishing data on pollock with the participation of 19 observers. In commercial catches made in the Kamchatka-Kuril subzone, the size composition of pollock was within the range of 25–60 cm, with the predominant group of individuals 36–43 cm in length (58%). The biological yield of eggs in this subzone varied from 2.9 to 5.0%. The share of non-commercial-sized fish averaged 23%. In the West Kamchatka subzone, pollock 20–61 cm in size was caught, with the predominant size group being 39–45 cm (62%). At the same time, the biological yield of eggs varied from 3.1 to 3.7%. The share of non-commercial-sized fish averaged 15%. In the North Okhotsk Sea subzone, pollock 30–55 cm in size was caught, with the predominant size group being 38–45 cm (84%). The average biological yield of caviar was 3.8%. The average share of non-commercial-sized fish was 10%.
All information on the progress of pollock fishing is posted on the VNIRO website in the section "Pollock fishing season".
VNIRO Press Service