Meeting participants—journalists, representatives of the public, local governments, and the scientific community—were shown a documentary film showcasing the scientists' research in the harsh Arctic conditions. Vyacheslav Bizikov detailed the results of the work for the period 2023–2025. The research covered a vast territory: the Pyasina River basin, from its source on the Putorana Plateau to its mouth in the Kara Sea.
"We conducted an inventory of the ichthyofauna in key water bodies in the region, including Lake Pyasino and the Pyasina, Ambarnaya, Norilskaya, Daldykan, Agapa, and Dudypta rivers," noted Bizikov. "VNIRO scientists conducted a comprehensive hydrobiological survey, studying the food supply (phyto- and zooplankton), as well as the age and species composition of fish populations. Particular attention was paid to assessing the ecological state of the water after anthropogenic impacts in previous years. Over three years of field research, we collected hundreds of samples for analysis of petroleum products and other pollutants, which allowed us to compile an up-to-date map of the system's ecological well-being."
A key part of the press conference was the presentation of plans for the artificial reproduction of aquatic bioresources. VNIRO's research provides the scientific basis for determining the stocking strategy.
Priority locations have been identified where environmental conditions are most conducive to the survival of artificially reproduced juveniles. As Yuri Shchurov noted, stock restoration requires more than just one-time campaigns, but the creation of a sustainable monitoring system and fish-farming infrastructure. Specifically, the possibility of using genetic markers to verify the authenticity of released specimens was discussed, which will allow for monitoring the effectiveness of stocking over decades.
The event generated keen interest among undergraduate and graduate students from local universities. The discussion emphasized that the Norilo-Pyasinskaya system is currently becoming one of the most studied freshwater bodies in the Russian Arctic. The expedition's findings will form the basis for new methodological recommendations for fisheries management in polar latitudes.
Concluding the conference, VNIRO experts answered questions about the prospects for resuming commercial fishing. It was noted that, thanks to the joint efforts of science and business, Taimyr has every chance of regaining its status as the richest fishing region in the North.
VNIRO Press Service