Pink salmon's spawning enriches nutrient-poor rivers on Taymyr Peninsula, scientist says
MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. The increasing spawning on the Taymyr Peninsula of pink salmon, brought in from the Far East to the Arctic Ocean in the 20th century, enriches northern rivers with nutrients, Deputy Director of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) Vyacheslav Bizikov told TASS.
"This positive impact can be seen in rivers of the Far East, where Pacific salmon have commercial abundance and commercial importance. For example, in the rivers of Kamchatka or the Magadan and Khabarovsk Regions, their entry into the river increases the aquatic ecosystem's nutritional value. When the fish dies, it falls to the bottom or to the shores and feeds numerous benthos, plankton, and coastal predators. In oligotrophic, low-feeding Arctic reservoirs, a migrant like pink salmon will serve as a biological pump that will add nutrients from coastal seas' ecosystems into the river," he said.
Pink salmon, according to him, will only build up the fishing potential of the Pyasina River, without affecting its food supply. By virtue of its biology, pink salmon enters the river only to breed, while ceasing to feed. It spawns in places that other fish species do not use as spawning grounds, and the larvae roll down from the river, practically also not feeding yet, the scientist added.
Since 2023, the research institute jointly with the Norilsk Nickel Company has been studying aquatic biological resources and their habitat. The regular research will continue to 2053. The institute's Taymyr Expedition is a scientific testing ground to develop new methods and technologies in studying aquatic ecosystems of Arctic rivers and lakes. During the expedition, experts develop new research methods, theoretical models and technologies to restore aquatic ecosystems. Further on, results will be widely used in restoration of other northern water systems.
