VNIRO conducts comprehensive research on the coast of the Sea of Azov

 

The main factor in the transformation of biological productivity and the composition of the reservoir communities is the increase in salinity, caused by a steady reduction in the volume of freshwater runoff from rivers into the sea.

 

With the increase in salinity of the Azov Sea waters, there has been a change in the priority types of bioresources in industrial catches. Invertebrates, including shrimp, have become one of the basic objects of the fishery. Today, the key region for their production is the Northern Azov region (Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions). In this regard, conducting research in this region is of great importance for accurate forecasting of the volumes of aquatic biological resources and organizing fishery regulation.

 

From July 21 to 26, specialists from the Azov-Black Sea branch of the Russian State Research Center “All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography” (VNIRO) conducted a series of research projects to study the state of the population and reproduction of aquatic biological resources (shrimp and commercial fish species) and their habitat in the coastal zone of the Northern Azov region.

 

The expedition study involved employees of the hydrochemistry, hydrology and hydrobiology laboratories, as well as specialists from the laboratory of commercial invertebrates.

 

The expedition participants conducted research on the habitat of aquatic hydrobionts in the estuaries of small rivers in the Northern Azov region (Gruzsky Elanchik, Kalmius, Berda, Kutsaya Berdyanka, Obitochnaya, Kamyshevatka, Lozovatka, Korsak, Achokrak, Maly Utlyuk), Utlyuk and Molochny estuaries and the Sivash Bay. Scientists assessed the state of the aquatic environment by the following parameters: the level of oxygen dissolved in water, the pH of the aquatic environment, the concentration of biogenic elements, the content of heavy metals in water, the qualitative and quantitative composition of the hydrobiological communities of the studied water bodies. In addition, hydrometeorological indicators were recorded: temperature and wind speed, depth, temperature and transparency of the water, current speed, and salinity samples were taken.

 

Also, specialists studied the state of shrimp aggregations in the Molochny Estuary in the summer and monitored their fishing in the Sea of Azov. Materials were collected on the state of shrimp and by-catch of aquatic biological resources during specialized shrimp fishing (species composition, size and mass characteristics of catches).

 

The materials collected during the scientific expedition will allow scientists from the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO to assess the state of shrimp populations and their habitat in the coastal zone of the Northern Azov region. The data obtained will be used to develop substantiations for the volumes of recommended shrimp production (catch) in the Sea of Azov.

 

Press Service of VNIRO