Scientists forecasting on catches in Russia's Far East in July 2010
Bering Sea pollock
Pollock catches in the West Bering Sea zone in July 2010 are expected to be below the multiannual average level taking into account the stock's current condition. The pollock harvest will depend on the number of fishing efforts with the average daily catches of large trawlers to fluctuate at 40-65 tonnes per ship. The total catch through the month under analysis may amount to 40,000-42,000 tonnes subject to the fishing efforts of 25 large trawlers.
Longline and Danish seine fisheries in Bering Sea and East Kamchatka
Summer-autumn period is the most favourable period for grenadier operations in the West Bering Sea zone. The grenadier catch through July 2010 is forecasted at 2000-3000 tonnes if the bottom trawl fishery of the species is conducted by 3-5 ships. On the grounds of other species grenadier catches may reach 40% of the harvest.
Skates in the West Bering Sea and Karaginsk subareas will be harvested as bycatch in the trawl, longline and Danish seine fishery of mixed bottomfish species such as halibuts, cod, flounder, etc.
In the West Bering Sea zone, as the cod stock will be moving to the shallow waters, the fishery situation is expected to be stable and longliners are forecasted to harvest 5-6 tonnes per ship daily. The catch rates of Danish seiners are expected to amount to 4-5 tonnes.
The total harvest of cod in July 2010 will depend on the number of the fishing efforts and amount to 3000-5000 tonnes.
July will also be the best month for halibut operations in the inshore waters. According to the scientific forecasts, large halibuts will be forming strong concentrations in the inshore zone from the Ozernoy Cape to the Navarin Cape. Longline fish will be of 70-100 cm and the daily catch rates are expected at 2-2.5 tonnes. In the Karaginsk subarea halibut will be harvested as bycatch in cod fishery. The harvest of the species may amount to 50-70 tonnes.
North Kuriles
According to the scientists, in July 2010 squid concentrations at the islands of Ketoy-Simushir will be growing stronger and the stock will start forming concentrations at the islands of Paramushir-Onekotan. Depending on the fishing area squid catches may amount to 3-4 tonnes per tow and up to 12-16 tonnes per ship daily. The catch results at the islands of Paramushir-Onekotan are expected to be somewhat higher, namely at 3.5-4.5 tonnes per tow and 14-20 tonnes per ship daily.
July is one of the best months for grenadier fishery in the waters of South and North Kuriles where the total harvest through July 2010 may reach 3000 tonnes subject to the fishing efforts of 2-4 large bottom trawlers.
More favourable conditions for the cod fishery will be in the Fourth Kurile Strait, at the oceanic coast of Shiashkotan and Paramushir up to 5050 degree North. Daily longline catches are forecasted at 5-7 tonnes, while trawlers are expected to harvest ca.2-3 tonnes. Catches will contain flounder, white halibut and sculpins.
Sea of Okhotsk
According to the scientific forecast, the flounder fishery will be conducted in the subareas of West Kamchatka within the shelf waters. July is the spawning month for many flounders therefore the daily catch per ship in July 2010 is expected to vary from 0.1 to 37 tonnes depending on the fishing area. The share of flounders in bottomfish catches will also fluctuate from 30% to 60%. With 10-19 middle trawlers targeting the species on the grounds, the flounder harvest may amount to ca.6000 tonnes in the West Kamchatka subarea. In the south of the western coast of Kamchatka the scientists forecast catches of ca.5000 tonnes subject to participation of 20-25 middle vessels in the fishery.
July is the most favourable month for halibut fishery in the Sea of Okhotsk. Before the spawning period the fish start active feeding at the same time forming strong concentrations on the spawning grounds. In the North Okhotsk subarea the daily catch rates will amount to 3-6 tonnes per longliner and 2-4 tonnes per trawler. The recommended harvest in the subarea amounts to 650 tonnes of halibuts. The bycatch will be very wide in range of species: skates, lycodes, cod, sculpins, flounder, ocean perch, grenadier and some other species. The most favourable fishery situation is observed in the Lebed Chute and in the south of the TINRO Deep (West Kamchatka subarea). Net, trawl and longline fisheries are possible in the area. Depending on the type of fishery the average daily catch per longliner may vary from 2 to 5 tonnes with the share of halibuts to amount to 60-70%. Bottom net halibut will account for 70-80% of the harvest with the daily rates per vessel to be within 3-5 tonnes. Trawl catches of halibuts will not exceed 2-2.5 tonnes per vessel daily. The conditions for longline and net fishery of halibuts in the Kamchatka Kurile subarea are expected to be fairly good. The fleets are forecasted to harvest 1000 tonnes of halibuts subject to the fishing efforts of 7-8 longliners and 1-2 trawlers in each of the above mentioned two subareas.