Record high forecast of salmon runs for Sakhalin

Subject to government approval in 2007 Sakhalin-based fishermen would be able to harvest 159,399 tonnes of pink salmon and 20,736 tonnes of chum salmon, research quotas inclusive. The figures announced by the scientists from SakhNIRO fishery research institute are certainly record high as compared to the historic salmon TACs.

However, head of the institute's salmon laboratory says that this year they have applied a complex approach when calculating the TACs. The TACs are based on catch statistics reported by all the fishing companies of the province, the abundance of the salmon stocks and their juveniles in rivers, conditions for spawning and survival.

The largest run of 111,626 tonnes of pink salmon in the current year 2007 is expected in the East Sakhalin subarea (in the bays of Aniva and Terpenia, in the northeast and southeast of Sakhalin).

The most efficient chum salmon fishery is expected in the waters of Kuriles' Iturup and Kunashir Islands where catches are forecasted at 9134 tonnes. The exact dates of the fishery start have not yet been defined by the scientists, though they are sure that the season will not close earlier than 10 September 2007. Therefore the fishermen have to hurry to get fishing permits from Russia's veterinary and phytosanitary service Rosselkhoznadzor within the deadline of 25 August.