Russia's Primorsky Krai catches 392 tonnes of sardines in one week, cumulative total 3,576 tonnes; fishing still not started in the South Kuril Islands

Russian fisheries information agency Fishnews reported on November 9 that in the sardine (иваси, i.e., sardine-иваси) fishery in Peter the Great Gulf, four fishing vessels operated during the reporting period, catching 392 tonnes in one week. The vessels involved were the Kirovka, Ekarma 3, Oktyabr and Uzon, operating in the Sea of Japan.

According to data from the Pacific Fisheries Research Institute (VNIIRO Pacific Branch), as of November 8, the cumulative sardine catch in the waters of Primorsky Krai was 3,576 tonnes; fishing has still not taken place in the waters of the South Kuril Islands.

The report noted that due to a decline in surface water temperature in the eastern part of Peter the Great Gulf, fishing in the first half of the week was concentrated in Ussuri Bay and Posyet Bay; after storms on November 6-7, operations in the second half of the week shifted to the Posyet Bay area. Under the influence of strengthening northerly and westerly winds, warm surface water in the bays and shallow areas was rapidly replaced by cold water due to upwelling, with water temperatures dropping below 5 degrees Celsius, causing large numbers of sardines to be washed ashore. However, surface water temperatures in the central part of the gulf remained at 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, under which conditions sardines can still fatten. Institute data showed that daily catches this week ranged from 3 to 36 tonnes, averaging 19.6 tonnes per day.

As for other species, the cumulative catch of mackerel remained at 14 tonnes. Russian vessels ended Pacific saury fishing on October 27, with a total catch of 358 tonnes. The foreign fleet had caught 35,785 tonnes as of October 31, accounting for 31% of the recommended catch in open waters.