The Volga-Caspian branch of VNIRO completed monitoring studies in the Volga River Delta

 

In addition to studying the qualitative and quantitative structure of commercial populations of semi-anadromous and riverine fish and fishing intensity, other aquatic biological resources were also studied, including sturgeon, crayfish, and the sponge Badiaga. Along with observing the fishery and collecting biostatistical data, the intensity of recreational fishing was assessed.

 

The final expedition was cruise "KS-36," which took place in the coastal fishing zone of the Igolkinsky Bank. Carp and rudd comprised the bulk of commercial catches in this zone, with catfish and pike also landing at the collection point. Overall, approximately 27,000 semi-anadromous and freshwater fish were analyzed during the autumn period, of which over 25,000 were collected for mass measurements and over 1,600 for full biological analysis.

 

During the autumn fishing season, 13,000 tons of semi-anadromous and freshwater fish were caught in the Southern Fishery Region of the Volga-Caspian Fishery Basin. Pike-perch, carp, and catfish comprised the bulk of the commercial catches in the autumn, with crucian carp and rudd among the "other" freshwater species. The total catch of semi-anadromous and freshwater fish as of November 30, 2025, was 33,800 tons, down 2,100 tons from the same period in 2024. Bream (32%) and other freshwater species (32%)—primarily crucian carp, rudd, white bream, and asp—predominated in the catch.

 

A traditional feature of the 2025 autumn fishing season is a change in the range of species caught compared to the spring fishing season. While pike, then bream, predominate in the spring catch, zander and carp become more prevalent in the autumn. Fishermen in the Astrakhan Region are fishing amidst the continuing decline in the Caspian Sea level.

 

The collected biological material is being processed in the laboratory. The results will be used to develop substantiations for forecasts of the total allowable catch and recommended catch of aquatic biological resources and will serve as the basis for developing recommendations for the rational exploitation of aquatic biological resource populations.

 

 

VNIRO Press Service