Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation–head of the Federal Agency for Fishery Ilya Shestakov gave ministerial awards to 18 scientists who completed the first Transarctic expedition on the research vessel “Professor Levanidov”. The meeting took place in the Federal Agency for Fishery on October 4.
Specialists of the scientific group of the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) from Moscow, Murmansk, and Vladivostok received certificates of acknowledgement by the Federal Agency for Fishery and medals for contribution to fisheries development in Russia.
“The tasks have been completed. It is important that we get the result now. This is important because we are now discussing the possibility of fishing in the Arctic zone. Scientific research in the Arctic is very significant for us. An agreement has been signed by the Arctic States to ban commercial fishing outside the economic zone until scientific research is carried out. The resource study of stocks, which is very important for further use and discussion of issues related to commercial fishing in the Arctic zone. Besides the scientific component, it will also contribute greatly to the country’s economy,” Ilya Shestakov said.
Director of VNIRO Kirill Kolonchin said that the program of the expedition was developed in such a way as to maximize the scope of scientific research during the first Transarctic scientific expedition.
Scientists told about the work done and the preliminary results of the research.
A large-scale integrated Arctic scientific expedition to study the aquatic bioresources of the Northern Seas had been conducted for three months. Scientists studied aquatic bioresources and their habitats in the Chukchi, East Siberian sea, Laptev Sea, Kara and Barents Seas. The nutritive base, modern climatic and hydrological characteristics of the region were also studied.
“Probably, each specialist this expedition left its own impression. For example, as an ichthyologist, I can say that there were a lot of interesting discoveries regarding ichthyofauna. We have found new species of fish beyond their known habitats. First, this is pollock, which was first discovered in the Laptev Sea, this is a blue catfish and redfish, which we did not catch in the Laptev Sea before - they were caught there for the first time. One of the applied scientific results is an increase in the number of Pollock in the Chukchi sea, which opens up real prospects for its fishing. We should also mention a black halibut found in the Eastern part of the Laptev sea. One more species is a snow crab, which is widely distributed in the waters of the Kara Sea, and, possibly, also represents real prospects for fishing in the future”, - told the chief researcher of VNIRO, scientific Director of the expedition Alexey Orlov.
It was found that the wide distribution of Atlantic water masses in 2019 led to the discovery of black halibut in the Laptev Sea, snow crab - in the north-eastern part of the East Siberian Sea and in the north of the Chukchi Sea at depths of over 200 meters. The intensive removal of Pacific waters to the Chukchi sea in recent years has formed the conditions for Pollock concentration.
Another interesting result concerns the polar cod, which almost disappeared from the Barents sea, probably due to climatic changes. The scientists found large mature polar cod in considerable quantities in the waters of the Kara sea.
A team of scientists conducted ichthyological, genetic, hydrological, oceanographic, and acoustic studies carried out sampling and fixation of samples for petroleum products, determination of phosphates and silicon, concentrations of ammonium, nitrite and nitrate nitrogen. There was a team to work with commercial invertebrates and observations of marine mammals and birds.
Oceanographic studies have revealed that the climate changes of the last decade have led to a shift in the boundaries of the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic water masses and their characteristics. And, as a consequence, the redistribution of hydrobionts and crabs in the studied seas.
As part of oceanographic studies of the age of water, eight samples were taken in the deepwater parts of all seas for their further analysis.
To detect microplastics, which is now considered one of the main pollutants of the ocean, a Manta-type neuston network was used. The design of this network with a filtered water meter allows the collection and determination of the volume of neuston and microplastics on the sea surface. Samples were collected at 39 stations in the waters of all Arctic seas. Differences in the composition of neuston and the amount of microplastics along the route of research were revealed. All samples will be delivered to the VNIRO laboratory for processing.
To collect genetic samples, modern technologies were used, which allow to define the presence of hydrobionts through studies of seawater by molecular methods (aquaDNA-eDNA). Each organism, regardless of its size, leaves a “trace” in the form of microparticles of mucus, scales, blood, which are stored in the water from several hours to several days. For the analysis of aquaDNA samples were taken at two positions - at the surface and at the bottom, then they were filtered and frozen at a temperature of-20 ° C to be transferred to the VNIRO laboratory.
As a result of the expedition, more than 400 kg of samples were collected and frozen, they will be processed and studied in the laboratories of VNIRO. The results of research will be considered at the meeting of the Scientific Council of the Institute.
Source: The press service of the Agency, the press service of the VNIRO
