On February 26, a western continental cyclone will approach the eastern coast of Sakhalin, causing winds to increase to 12-14 m/s in the northern regions. On February 27, the Sakhalin cyclone will pass over the Northern Kuril Islands and cause worsening weather conditions on the entire western Kamchatka shelf. On February 28, a low-gradient baric field will be established over the Sea of Okhotsk. On March 1, the next continental cyclone will approach the southern regions of the Sea of Okhotsk with winds increasing to 10-12 m/s, which will move into the ocean on March 2. From March 3, an independent cyclone will form in the rear of the outgoing cyclone, which will cause wind speeds to increase to 12-15 m/s in the south of the West Kamchatka shelf, and to 10-12 m/s in the north of the sea.
During the past week, according to satellite monitoring data, there was no significant spatial increase in the area of compact ice in the Sea of Okhotsk. The dynamic influence of north-east storm winds caused significant destruction of compact ice massifs and strong mixing of waters in the eastern and north-eastern regions of the sea.
According to the Federal Agency for Fisheries’ industry monitoring system (Federal Center for Fisheries Monitoring) as of February 23, 2025, the growing pollock catch since the beginning of the current year in the West Bering Sea zone is 30.9 thousand tons, in the Karaginsky subzone - 14.1 thousand tons, in the Petropavlovsk-Komandorsky subzone - 29.6 thousand tons, in the North Kuril zone - 37.4 thousand tons, in the South Kuril zone - 13.4 thousand tons, in four fishing subzones of the Sea of Okhotsk - 351.0 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 24–67 cm, with the predominant group of individuals 39–45 cm in length (52%). The biological yield of eggs in this subzone varied from 3.9 to 4.8%. The share of non-commercial-sized fish averaged 18%. In the West Kamchatka subzone, pollock 20–60 cm in size was caught, with the predominant size group 39–44 cm (58%). At the same time, the biological yield of eggs varied from 1.9 to 5.6%. The share of non-commercial-sized fish averaged 16%. In the North Okhotsk Sea subzone, pollock 28–55 cm in size was caught, with the predominant size group 38–45 cm (62%). The biological yield of eggs varied from 2.2 to 6.5%. The average share of non-commercial-sized fish was 18%.
All information on the progress of pollock fishing is posted on the VNIRO website in the section "Pollock fishing season".
VNIRO Press Service