Fish stocks of large lake systems of northern Russia and their rational use (Case lakes Vashutkini lakes)

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By virtue of various social and economic reasons the fishery volume in the lakes of northern Russia has decreased six-fold over the past 15 years. Now there is a serious need for restoration of the fish facilities in the internal reservoirs of the region. In northern conditions one of the ways of increasing freshwater fish production is the trade development of large reservoirs and lake systems located near the large industrial centers. Researches which have been carried out during 2004-06 years have shown that Vashutkini lakes are very prospective for the industrial fishery. This largest lake system of Bolshezemelskaya tundra is located in the northeast of the Arkhangelsk region near the city of Vorkuta. It consists of 7 comparatively large lakes with the area 6..20 km2 and set of small reservoirs. In 50-60's years of the last century 60-70 tons of fish have been extracted annually from Vashutkini lakes. However, during the last twenty years fish resources of these reservoirs basically haven't been used. Vashutkini lakes can be important for fishery due to the prevalence of the valuable species in stocks. From the information we have, the relative number of the whitefish and umber is about 60-70 % of the total fish stock. To assess the size of fish stocks on Vashutkiny lakes we used an expert estimate method. The comparative analysis of the condition of fish populations for the last forty years has shown that industrial fishery did not make considerable influence on fish stocks. Practically there was no change in catch structure or age-size characteristics of trade herds. The population of the common fish species is in good condition, and their stocks make it possible to restore the industrial fishery of the whitefish, pelyad, umber and pike. The total possible fish yield on Vashutkini lakes can reach 100 tons, comprising the whitefish - 30 tons, umber - 15 tons, pelyad - 15 tons. This is several times more than there is extracted now from all lakes of Arkhangelsk region. Another 40 tons is pike, perch and roach.