Russian fishery scientists have embarked on the implementation of a five-year program to explore resources of mesopelagic fish and crabs in the Russian Far East.
The program, called Studies And Exploitation Of Biologic Resources In Deep Waters Of The Far Eastern Seas, was approved by the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries in late 2018. It will be implemented in cooperation with the Russian Academy of Science, the biggest scientific organization in the country. The new stocks are expected to increase Russia's national catch by 1.8 million metric tons (MT).
The program is in line with suggestions previously made by Ilya Shestakov, head of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries. In 2017, Shestakov said the global catch could be doubled at the expense of more intense exploitation of pelagic and mesopelagic species.
Scientists seeking to get more information on availability of stocks will assess the stocks of demersal and mesopelagic species in the Far Eastern seas. The searches will be carried out to evaluate the possible commercial viability of these stocks to identify the ones most profitable for fisheries. In addition to economic effectiveness, the program will make recommendations on gear and methods of fishing the new stocks.
Special attention will be paid to how to use the various species in the production of feed, pharmaceuticals, and other products with the help of non-waste technologies. This aspect will be important for the economic viability of the new stocks, as deep-water species have lower commercial value for fisheries, making waste-free processing look like a solution to making the stocks attractive for exploitation. For example, fish tissue can be used in the manufacture of dietetic food, while fish liver can be good for producing nutraceuticals, feed products, and cosmetics.
The program is estimated to increase Russian fisheries annual catch by 1.8 million MT, thus bringing an additional RUB 30 billion (USD 456 million, EUR 400 million) to the industry in profits. In 2018, the country’s catch exceeded 5 million MT.
