Russia: The growing catch of sardine amounted to 392.4 thousand tons

A total of three purse seine and several pelagic trawl vessels from countries like Japan, China, Taiwan, Vanuatu, and the Republic of Korea have been engaged in fishing for sardines and mackerel in the South Kuril zone, east of Iturup Island. The fishing activity, conducted between October 12 and October 18, saw an increase in efficiency, with the maximum daily catch reaching 850 tons and the average catch per day being 334 tons, resulting in a total catch of 38,376 tons of sardines and 104 tons of mackerel for the week. The saury catch hit 132.1 thousand tons, which is 98% of the recommended catch for open waters, with China and Taiwan having exhausted their quota and ceasing fishing. The operation also involved approximately 100 foreign vessels, predominantly under the Chinese flag, focusing on pelagic species such as sardines, mackerel, and others in the region.

Three vessels are equipped with purse seines, the rest with pelagic trawls. The number of vessel days (VD) of fishing for the week was 115. The fishery was conducted in the waters of the South Kuril zone in the area east of Iturup Island at a temperature difference of 8-12°C. The efficiency of the sardine fishery has increased compared to the previous week, the maximum daily catch of individual vessels reached 850 tons, the average catch on the VD was 334 tons, the catch for the week was 38,376 tons. The mackerel catch for the week was 104 tons. The cumulative catch of sardines as of October 20 was 392.4 thousand tons (125% of last year's catch for this period - 313.2 thousand tons), mackerel - 2.8 thousand tons (29% of last year's catch - 9.7 thousand tons). In open waters, vessels under the flags of Japan, China, Taiwan, Vanuatu and the Republic of Korea, a total of about 150 units, are working to catch saury. According to available information, the saury catch by all fishing ...