The Black Sea is one of the most important seas of the Russian Federation. This body of water serves an important transport function, serving as a key link in the system of maritime communications and logistics routes. Equally significant is its recreational function, attracting millions of tourists to the coast annually. Furthermore, the harvesting of aquatic bioresources in the Black Sea and its coastal areas is of crucial socioeconomic importance for the region. All this increases the anthropogenic load on the Black Sea ecosystem and the state of its biodiversity, necessitating measures to rehabilitate and protect it from the consequences of anthropogenic pressure.
The annual catch of aquatic bioresources in the Russian sector of the Black Sea is approximately 30,000 tons. The main commercial species are sprat, anchovy, horse mackerel, red mullet, turbot, mullet, and Black Sea shrimp.
The rational use of aquatic biological resources in the basin is ensured by the Azov-Black Sea Branch of the Russian State Research Center "All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography" (VNIRO). Scientists at the branch conduct a comprehensive analysis of the state of fish stocks and commercial invertebrates in this strategically important fishery basin for our country, developing forecasts of recommended aquatic biological resource catch volumes for the fishing industry in the coming years.
To achieve these goals, the branch regularly conducts comprehensive expeditions to assess the state of aquatic biological resources and their habitats in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea. In 2025, all scheduled seasonal studies of the hydrological, hydrochemical, and hydrobiological parameters of the marine environment, water pollution, and bottom sediments were completed, along with ichthyological trawl and trawl-acoustic surveys.
Marine expeditionary research is carried out on the branch's own research vessel, the Oleg Betin, equipped with specialized equipment and devices for sampling and data collection. Scientists also develop forecasting materials for the fishing industry using satellite imagery data and the latest mathematical models. This ensures high accuracy and reliability of resource forecasts.
Long-term fisheries research conducted by the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO in the Black Sea creates a solid foundation for effectively assessing the dynamics of processes occurring in the water body. This makes it possible to identify cause-and-effect relationships between various elements of the Black Sea ecosystem and enables informed decisions on the sustainable development of the region's natural resources.
The work of the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO makes a significant contribution to the implementation of the objectives of the Russian Federation's Strategic Action Plan for the Restoration and Protection of the Black Sea.
VNIRO Press Service