Characteristics of habitat, fishing regime and state of whitefish Coregonus lavaretus (L.) population in Topo-Pyaozersk reservoir (catchment of the White Sea)

• Published in: Vestnik of Astrakhan State Technical University. Series: Fishing industry
• Main Authors: Slastina Yuliya, Georgiev Andrey Pavlovich
• Format: Text
• Language: Russian
• Published: Astrakhan State Technical University 2024
• Subjects: karelian; White Sea
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.24143/2073-5529-2024-2-7-16

This work is the result of hydrobiological and ichthyological work of the Institute of Water Problems of the North of the Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences during the implementation of various topics (governmental and economic-contractual) in the water area of the Topo-Pyaozersky (Kuma) reservoir. The main object of discussion of the article is the whitefish Coregonus lavaretus (L.), namely the state of its population. Calculations of its abundance and biomass in the current study period have been carried out. Taking into account that the nature of commercial production and its unilateral orientation on the part of registered and unregistered fish harvesters remain at a high level, limiting the catch of whitefish should remain an indispensable condition for the preservation and stability of their biological resources. To carry out this catch, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures, in terms of more complete fishing on the main sections of the lake and the conservation of caught fish. As additional measures for this, it is advisable to introduce a ban on whitefish fishing in areas with the largest concentrations during the spawning period. Summary of all the above – whitefish fishing is currently being carried out against the background of a new man-made situation affecting its products, previously modified by other anthropogenic factors. All this exacerbates the problem of fisheries regulation, because other anthropogenic factors often turn out to be unstable and fluctuate (including dramatically) both by year and by season. For example, water levels during the spawning period may vary significantly due to the activities of the Kama HPP, determined by the interests of electricity consumers. As a result, optimal catch rates were calculated – up to 24 tons, or 21.7% of the value of the fishing stock (with a maximum withdrawal of 23.4%).