Representatives of the Khabarovsk Krai Government Fisheries Committee, the Amur branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Glavrybvod," members of fisheries associations, representatives of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North of Khabarovsk Krai, and the Public Council under the Khabarovsk Krai Government Fisheries Committee attended the event.
In their reports, branch specialists traditionally presented information on the status of stocks of the region's most important commercial species: crabs, shrimp, herring, Pacific salmon, and commercial freshwater fish species.
The report by the head of the department was recognized as the best. Andrey Povarov, Head of the Innovative Research Methods Sector, and co-authors presented a paper titled "Experience Using Industrial-Grade UAVs for Salmon Research and Rapid Assessment of Their Abundance in the Rivers of the Okhotsk Region in 2025."
In 2025, aerial surveys of salmon spawning rivers were initiated using industrial-grade UAVs delivered to VNIRO's Far Eastern branches as part of the national "Unmanned Aerial Systems" project in late 2024. The results showed that branch specialists successfully mastered and utilized industrial, fixed-wing UAVs to implement manufacturers' approaches. These industrial-grade UAVs from major domestic manufacturers significantly increase the scale and productivity of research thanks to their improved technical characteristics compared to previously used consumer-grade models. The resulting data were used for operational management of the salmon fishing season and forecasting.
The report by the Head of the Innovative Research Methods Sector, Andrey Povarov, generated considerable interest. Vladislav Morozov, head of the Sturgeon Fish Sector, presented the results of the largest ever survey of Amur sturgeon, conducted in the Amur River basin. Scientists found that the combined abundance of Amur sturgeon and Kaluga sturgeon has reached levels seen in the 1970s. The main reason for the increase in sturgeon numbers in the Amur River is presumably artificial reproduction, which has been actively developing over the past 15 years.
Deputy Director Vsevolod Koshelev presented the main findings of a study on the effectiveness of artificial reproduction of autumn-run chum salmon in the Amur River basin. Microchemical studies and otolith marking data indicate a significant contribution of artificial reproduction to maintaining the stocks of this Pacific salmon species.
Scientists at the branch also continue their educational outreach efforts, highlighting the potential for commercial development of promising underutilized resources in Khabarovsk Krai. Polina Dulenina, head of the Marine Bioresources Laboratory, presented a report on the biology and fishery prospects of yellowfin flounder in the northwestern Sea of Okhotsk.
Summing up the work, Denis Kotsyuk, head of the Khabarovsk branch of VNIRO, noted the high level of the reports presented and wished everyone success in 2026!
VNIRO Press Service