Resource studies in the Mezen River basin
26 August 2024

Resource studies in the Mezen River basin

On August 9-14, employees of the Northern Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "VNIRO" conducted research on aquatic bioresources on the Mezenskaya Pizhma River in the Arkhangelsk Region in order to study the state of natural reproduction of Atlantic salmon, as well as other fish species.
 
The employees of the branch conducted control catches of ichthyofauna, assessed the density of settlement of juvenile Atlantic salmon in spawning and nursery areas. During the work, biological analysis of fish was carried out, including determining the size and weight characteristics, the sex ratio in fish populations and the stage of maturity of gonads were determined, and recording structures were selected to determine age. A route survey of spawning and nursery areas was conducted. The work program included sampling for hydrobiological research.
 
According to the results of the research, the distribution density of juvenile salmon in spawning and nursery areas is quite high. Juvenile salmon were found in all surveyed riffles. In addition, the catches included river perch, grayling, pike, dace, bleak, burbot, barbeled char and minnow. Two dead male pink salmon were also noted along the route, i.e. pink salmon rise high enough to spawn in the rivers of the basin.
 
The collected material will be used to assess the number of aquatic bioresources, prepare forecast materials, substantiate the raw material base of fisheries, and develop measures to regulate fisheries.
 
Press service of VNIRO