Overview of fisheries in the Russian Far East in December 2009

According to the scientists, the closing month of the year 2009 is not expected to bring favourable conditions for fishery operations in the seas of the Russian Far East, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to fishery sources in Vladivostok.

The Sea of Okhotsk, the main fishing area where the bulk of the fleet will be concentrating, will be influenced by oceanic cyclones and the number of stormy days there is expected to reach half a month. The weather conditions in the Kuriles will also remain unfavourable as the storms will be getting more active in the area.

In the closing month of 2009 the Russian fleets will be targeting the following species:

• Pollock in the Bering Sea. The fishery situation will depend on the weather conditions and the dynamics of water cooling in the northwest part of the Bering Sea. Concentrations of pollock will be either poor or of the average strength. The daily catches of large vessels are forecasted within 35 tonnes and at ca.15-20 tonnes for middle trawlers.
• Pollock in the Sea of Okhotsk. As in the recent 10 years the pollock fishery in the Sea of Okhotsk was not carried out in the end of the year, this December 2009 the Russian fishermen will have to lose fishing time while spotting for concentrations of large pollock. The fishery situation in the North Okhotsk subarea is expected to be fairly good with the daily catch rates per large trawler forecasted at 70-90 tonnes on the average. Daily catches in the West Kamchatka subarea are expected to be somewhat lower. Fluctuations of catches will be observed within 50-70 tonnes for large vessels and 35-50 tonnes for middle vessels. The scientists say that the fishermen will be satisfied with the size and volume of pollock catches in the Kamchatka Kurile subarea as well.
• Herring in the Sea of Okhotsk. The largest harvest of feeding herring in the North Okhotsk subarea in the recent years has been recorded exactly in December. Catches per tow are expected to amount to 36 tonnes per large vessel and 28 tonnes per middle vessel. The total harvest in December 2009 is forecasted at 72,300 tonnes subject to maximum fishing efforts. According to the scientists, the above catch can be covered by 30 large trawlers and 20 middle vessels.
• Black halibut in West Kamchatka. The fishery situation in December 2009 is expected to be stable, the daily catch rates to amount to 3 tonnes on the average for trawlers and longliners. By the end of the month catches of vessels equipped with longline and net gear may increase. The total harvest in the area is expected to amount to 420 tonnes.
• Cod in the Sea of Okhotsk. Promising areas for fishery operations will be located along the coastline of Kamchatka between the 54th and 57th degrees North. The largest catches are expected at the northwest coast of Paramushir and Shumshu. Cod fishery can be conducted both with trawl and Danish seine gear and longline gear. Catches of longliners are forecasted to amount to 7-10 tonnes per ship daily, trawlers and Danish seiners are supposed to harvest 2-6 and 3-7 tonnes per ship daily depending on the fishing area. Besides, cod fishery is also possible in the waters of East Kamchatka where longliners will harvest 8-10 tonnes per ship daily. The bycatch of cod in trawl and Danish seine fishery in the Karaginsk subarea can reach 6-8 tonnes per day.
• Crabs in the Bering Sea and in the Sea of Okhotsk. Crab fishery will continue until complete exhaustion of capture quotas.