The task of the employees of the World Ocean sector of the Kerch Department of the Azov-Black Sea Branch of the VNIRO (AzNIIRH) who took part in the expedition – chief specialist Sergey Usachev and leading researcher Dmitry Bityutsky - is to study an important fishing object – the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Scientists are also investigating the most common Euphausiid species, Thysanoessa macrura, and the trophic competitor of shell krill (Salpa).
"It is still too early to talk about the results obtained, but it is indisputable that scientific research carried out in the Antarctic waters of the Scotia and Weddell Seas, in the Bransfield Strait and the Antarctic Sound are of great importance for predicting the possibility of organizing fishing for the most massive Antarctic hydrobionts," notes Alexander Zaitsev, Head of the World Ocean Sector.A total of 39 kg were caught in the catches of research trawls and specialized nets. antarctic krill. Scientists carried out a number of desk studies, including biological analysis of krill and its mass measurements. In total, 2.3 thousand individual examinations were carried out and 3,300 copies were analyzed during the work in Antarctic waters . antarctic krill. In addition, samples of Salpa (Salpa spp.) and eufausiids of the species Thysanoessa macrura (10 and 5 thousand copies) were fixed. accordingly) for further study in the laboratory.
After more detailed processing and analysis of the materials collected in the expedition, it will be possible to judge the features of biology, size and age composition and distribution of Antarctic krill accumulations in the surveyed areas. The results of resource studies of Antarctic krill will be used to develop scientifically sound recommendations for managing the krill stock and improving the efficiency of fishing. These studies are classified as priority areas in the Development Strategy of the fisheries complex of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030.
Their practical value lies in ensuring and resuming the Russian krill fishery.
VNIRO Press Service