POPULATION DYNAMICS AND CATCH PROSPECTS OF RUSSIAN PACIFIC SALMON (OHCORHYNCHUS, SALMONIDAE)

Abstract

The official statistics data of domestic catches do not allow to form appropriate estimate about the actual state of stocks and population dynamics of Russian Pacific salmon in the 20th – early 21st centuries, because a significant fishing load was provided by Japanese fishermen for a long time. During this period the stocks were on the rise twice (from 1929 till 1960 and from 2004 till present time) and once they were in a depressed state (1961–2003). Apparently, the maximum abundance values during the rise periods were approximately at the same level. The duration of high and low abundance periods is approximately similar. The full cycle of changes in was 65–75 years. The current period of the Russian Pacific salmon high abundance, according to the rhythm of previous periods, may last until the early 2030s. The minimum recorded catches during this period of time will be at least 250 thousand tons and the maximum will be in the range of 500–600 thousand tons.