North Kuril Research Articles

On monitoring the downstream and spawning migrations of Pacific salmon on the Paramushir Island (Northern Kuriles) in 2023

The purpose: The main goal of the work is to study the conditions of migration of juveniles on the control Savushkina River and describe the state of Pacific salmon migrating off the coast of the Paramushir Island in 2023.Methods used: Research work was carried out using standard generally accepted methods.Result: During the research work, data were obtained on the timing and dynamics of migration of juvenile Pacific salmon. The results of monitoring the approaches of Pacific salmon producers are presented. Shown are data on the size-mass characteristics and age composition of chum salmon, sockeye salmon, coho salmon and pink salmon.Practical significance: The results of the research work carried out will be used in the preparation of materials for the projected volume of production (catch) of Pacific salmon for 2024 and subsequent years for the North Kuril subzone.

Северо-Курильская зона: «пользовательский состав» промыслового ресурса – минтай с 2015 по 2022 годы

The article presents the results of the analysis of the distribution of volumes (quotas) of pollock production (catch) between users for industrial, coastal fishing and quotas for investment purposes of fishing in the North Kuril fishing Zone from 2015 to 2022.

Solving the problem of optimizing fishing activities

A model for optimal planning of fishing activities has been proposed. It includes the formation of a biological component (a set of fishing objects considered taking into account their distribution over fishing zones) and a technological component (a set of fishing vessels and fishing technologies). On the basis of these two components, the technological chain "field object – production vessel – production technology" is formed. For each type of fishing vessel, it is permissible to use a certain type (or several types) of fishing technologies that are directly related to fishing objects, their catch can be carried out only using a certain production technology. Particular attention in the model is given to the problem of determining the optimal quantitative composition of the production fleet. The optimization criterion is the minimization of the costs associated with the fishing activities of specialized vessels, provided that the specified volumes of catch are achieved. The costs are directly related to the types of vessels used, fuel costs depending on the vessel's home port and the time required for loading and unloading operations. In the optimization problem, estimates of the weighted average daily catch and fishing time are used to account for most of the costs associated with the extraction of aquatic biological resources. The optimization algorithm is considered on the example of the Commander squid (Berryteuthis magister) in the North Kuril zone. In the area under consideration, squid production is carried out using trawl technology. The main types of vessels engaged in squid harvesting are large-capacity and medium-capacity vessels.

Северо-Курильская зона: состояние ресурсов и промысла в 2000-2021 годы

Object of research: the North Kuril fishing zone. The purpose of the work is to characterize the state of the Russian fishery in the North Kuril zone of the Far Eastern fishery basin of Russia in 2000-2021. Result: The average long-term recommended value of fishing harvest in the North Kuril zone is 146.75-319.71 (244.54) thousand tons. At the same time, the average long-term development of aquatic biological resources is at a high level - 88.89-259.53 .76) thousand tons or 76.4%. The high proportion of exploitation of commercial aquatic organisms implies a limited possibility of expanding fisheries by increasing the gross catch. The development of the fishery complex of the region, obviously, should be ensured through comprehensively substantiated logistics and technological solutions.

Brief results of research on scallops off the northern Kuril Islands in autumn 2022

The purpose of the work: to collect materials for assessing the state and dynamics of scallop stocks in the North Kuril zone, to study the spatial structure of settlements, to monitor the dynamics, distribution and composition of commercial catches in 2022.Materials and Methods: The work was carried out on a specialized rowing vessel “Vladimir Nikora” performed 210 dredging in the area limited by coordinates 49°20'N 49°30'N. and 154°57'E154°53'E at depths of 79-170 meters. The data collection tool is an industrial scallop dredge with a working width of 3.7 m (scallop dredge 1.04 / 3.74 m). The material type of the scallop dredge bag is kapron. The length of the dredging was 0.4-0.5 miles. The research covered the water area of 23 square meters. miles. Biological analysis was carried out for 5 thousand specimens of chlamy scallops. The biological state of hydrobionts was studied according to the methods generally accepted in fisheries research. For comparability of data on the distribution of hydrobionts, the catchability coefficient of the scallop dredge was used equal to 1. The linear dimensions of the scallops were measured with an accuracy of 1 mm.The practical significance of the research: to provide commercial and biological information materials on the total allowable catches of scallops in the North Kuril.

Application of the machine learning method to estimate the biomass of pacific cod in the North Kuril zone

The biomass of pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) in the North Kuril fishing zone is estimated using a multifactorial approach, with evaluation of uncertainty. For this purpose, the density of fish over entire zone is restored using the data on density obtained in 2022 compared with the data of previous surveys and fishery data obtained in 2021 and earlier, converted to the same scale, with application of the machine learning method, as the random forest in the multiple imputation by chained equations procedure (MICE). The coefficient of the restored data determination with out-of-bag (test set) data was > 0.8 with the data of scientific survey in 2021 and > 0.5 with the data of Danish seine observations. The cod density variance in MICE data was in 82 % lower than in the data of the scientific survey; therefore the biomass estimation with MICE data has lower uncertainty than that one calculated just from the mean density in survey. The study showed insignificant difference of the cod biomass in 2021 and 2022. Spatial segregation is revealed for fishing gears used for the pacific cod fishery. There is proposed to extend the list of fishing gears and to expand the study area for reducing possible bias in the biomass estimation due to large area of extrapolation.

First recent finding of scallop <i>Chlamys lioica</i> (Pectinidae, Bivalvia)

The purpose of this study was to inform on a first recent finding of scallop Chlamys (?) lioica (Dall, 1907).The research methods consist in description of specimens found in according with generally accepted methods.Results: Two alive specimens of scallop, unlike any known recent Pectinidae from the Northwest Pacific were found in the area of scallop fishery at north Kurile Islands in 2012 and 2017. These specimens identified as Pecten (Chlamys) lioicus Dall, 1907, known before as fossil only.Discussion: The main taxonomic features confirm belonging of these specimens to the genus Chlamys. Some another features as well developed commarginal lamellae of external valves surface, absence of reticulated microsculpture and smooth ventral margin of valves differ these specimens from another Chlamys s. str. species. The correct systematic position of this species may be clarified after examination of additional materials, the name Chlamys lioica (Dall, 1907) may be used until that.The novelty of research is in first recent finding of Chlamys lioica.Conclusion. Two findings of this species at North Kuriles were recorded only. However, this species may inhabit areas outside of main scallop fishing grounds. Rare findings may be explained by rare occasional relocation of some specimens from typical native grounds.

Мониторинг показателей безопасности скумбрии японской

Monitoring of the concentration of toxic elements, N-nitrosamines, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and cesium and strontium radionuclides in the raw muscle tissue of the Japanese mackerel putin 2014-2019 was carried out.
 It was found that the investigated safety indicators of Japanese mackerel caught in the South Kuril fishing zone and in the Pacific subzone of the North Kuril fishing zone in 2014 – 2019 correspond to modern quality requirements. It is noted that Japanese mackerel can be used as a valuable raw material for the production of food products.

About the forced and later spawn of Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius Pallas, 1810 (Scorpaeniformes: Hexagrammidae) in the waters of the North Kuril Islands

Results of the research indicate that the eggs of Atka mackerel are a part of forage for this speciesis from May to December. Captures of the Atka mackerel individuals spawning and feeding on the own eggs far from the coast indicate that a certain part of the stock spawns at the depths considerably lower than normal spawning grounds. Spawning individuals of Atka mackerel is were observed in research from June to December. Emergence of larvae from the eggs laid in November–December is expected in spring.

Оптимизация рыбодобывающей деятельности в многовидовых промысловых системах - промысловых зонах в статическом их состоянии с учетом биотехнологического дуализма (на примере Северо-Курильской зоны Дальневосточного рыбохозяйственного бассейна)

Повышение эффективности отечественного рыболовства, как совокупности промышленных биотехнологий, создающих индустриальные системы высшего уровня, является одной из основных задач при реализации стратегии развития рыбохозяйственного комплекса страны в долгосрочной перспективе. В этой связи, базисным объектом системного исследования является промысловая зона рыбохозяйственного бассейна как многовидовая промысловая система взаимосвязанных и взаимообусловленных компонентов: ресурсного потенциала и рыбодобывающих единиц, образующих внутреннюю среду системы, совокупности условий ведения промысла, составляющих ее внешнюю среду. Исследование производственных процессов при статическом состоянии названной системы является основополагающим процессом, опирающемся на учете ее двуединой природы – биотехнологического дуализма. Обязательный его учет лежит в основе формирования оптимальных схем расстановки промысловых усилий в промысловых зонах при организации рыболовства, планировании и управлении производственно-технологическим процессом добычи водных биоресурсов на основе рациональной их эксплуатации и с целью повышения эффективности работы добывающего флота за счет повышения их эксплуатационного времени при годовом и рейсовом планировании. Решение оптимизационной задачи в статике в процессе моделирования таких производственно-технологических систем в статическом их состоянии направлено на проведение оптимизации рыбодобывающей деятельности с учетом биотехнологического дуализма, присущего многовидовым промысловым системам – промысловым зонам. Целью оптимизации является получение оптимального количества промысловых единиц, основанное на альтернативном принципе использования судов определенного типа. Improving the efficiency of domestic fisheries, as a set of industrial biotechnologies that create industrial systems of the highest level, is one of the main tasks in implementation of strategy for development of the country's fishery complex in the long term. In this regard, the basic object for a systemic study is the catching area of the fishery basin as a multi-species fishery system of interrelated and interdependent components: resource potential and fishery units that form internal environment of the system along with a set of conditions for catching activities that make up its external environment. The study of industrial processes in a static state of the named system is a fundamental process based on consideration of its dual nature: bio-inspired dualism. Its mandatory consideration underlies formation of optimal schemes for arrangement of fishery efforts in catching zones when organizing fishery industry, planning and managing the industrial process of harvesting aquatic biological resources based on rational operation thereof, and in order to increase efficiency of catching fleet by increasing its operating time during the annual and voyage planning. The solution for optimization problem in statics in the process of modeling such industrial-process systems in their static state is aimed at optimizing fishery activities taking into account the bio-inspired dualism inherent in multi-species fisheries: catching areas. The aim of optimization is to obtain an optimal number of fishery units based on an alternative principle of using vessels of a certain type.

Моделирование процессов ведения рыбодобывающей деятельности в многовидовой промысловой системе «промысловая зона рыбохозяйственного бассейна» при статической постановке оптимизационной задачи (на примере Северо-Курильской зоны Дальневосточного рыбохозяйственного бассейна)

В работе рассматриваются вопросы математического моделирования рыбодобывающих процессов в многовидовой промысловой системе «промысловая зона рыбохозяйственного бассейна» как основы совершенствования системной организации ведения рыбодобывающей деятельности. Авторами сформирован инновационный научно-обоснованный подход к процессу моделирования системы «объект промысла – технология лова – рыбодобывающее судно» на основе исследования производственных данных и данных промысловой статистики Северо-Курильской зоны Дальневосточного рыбохозяйственного бассейна, определены этапы моделирования с учетом компонентного состава системы «промысловая зона», ограничений и факторов, влияющих на производственно-технологический процесс. Разработаны и математически описаны внутрисистемные зависимости между компонентами рыбопромысловой системы, критерии оптимизации. Впервые спроектирована модель исследуемой системы в статической постановке оптимизационной задачи. Созданная оптимизационная модель рыбодобывающего процесса в многовидовой промысловой системе – «промысловая зона рыбохозяйственного бассейна». Изложенный процесс моделирования рыбодобывающей деятельности в многовидовой промысловой системе «промысловая зона рыбохозяйственного бассейна» при статической постановке оптимизационной задачи, и созданная в результате оптимизационная модель названной системы являются точками роста в дальнейшем проектировании динамических рыболовных процессов и систем более высшего уровня, направленных на совершенствование системной организации рыбодобывающего процесса с целью достижения запланированных программных показателей отечественного рыболовства, и лежат в основе создания усовершенствованных систем организации, планирования и управления рыболовными процессами и системами. The paper considers the issues of mathematical modeling of fishing processes in the multi-species fishing system "fishing zone of the fishing basin"as the basis for improving the system organization of fishing activities. The authors generated an innovative scientifically-based approach to the process modeling system "object fishery technology fishing fishing vessel", based on the study of production data and data of fishing statistics Severo-Kuril area of the far Eastern fishery basin, the stages of modeling taking into account component composition of the system the "field zone" of the limitations and factors influencing the production process. Intra-system dependencies between components of the fishing system and optimization criteria are developed and mathematically described. For the first time, a model of the system under study was designed in the static formulation of the optimization problem. The created optimization model of the fishing process in a multi-species fishing system – "fishing zone of the fishing basin". The described process of modeling fishing activity in a multi-species fishing system "fishing zone of a fishing basin" with a static statement of the optimization problem, and the resulting optimization model of the named system are points of growth in the further design of dynamic fishing processes and higher-level systems aimed at improving the system organization of the fishing process in order to achieve the planned program indicators of domestic fisheries, and underpin the creation of improved systems for organizing, planning and managing fishing processes and systems.

Камчатка и Командорские острова

The seismicity of Kamchatka and surrounding territories for 2013 is viewed. The minimum local magnitude of completeness is MLmin=3.25 in the Kamchatka earthquake catalogue totally, and MLmin=4 for earthquakes under the Okhotsk sea (with h≥350 km). The Kamchatka earthquake catalogue of 2013 with ML≥3.6, which includes 1750 events, is published. 146 earthquakes of published catalog with ML=3.6–7.8 were felt with seismic intensity ranged from 2 to 7 of the MSK-64 scale in Kamchatka and surrounding areas. Focal mechanisms were determined in two ways: 1) from first motion P-wave arrivals for 107 earthquakes; 2) using waveforms for 25 earthquakes. The background seismicity level (SESL’09) within the Kamchatka responsibility zone was extremely high in 2013. It exceeded the rate of seismicity in all previous years of observations. There were 6672 earthquakes, including 129 events with КS≥11.5 (ML≥5) in the region during the year. The mechanisms of 107 earthquakes were defined. 148 earthquakes were felt with intensity from 2 up to 7 on the territory of Kamchatskii Krai, North Kuril Islands, and Komandor Islands. There were several unusual events in 2013. The strong earthquake with magnitude Mw=5.8 on March 13 in the area of the Kamchatka Isthmus (Il'pyr earthquake), which is a rare phenomenon for the Northern Kamchatka. There was the strongest deep earthquake in the world (Mw=8.3) on May 24 under the Sea of Okhotsk (Okhotsk earthquake) at the depth of 630 km. The event caused an abnormal macro-seismic effect. The intensive earthquake swarm was observed in the Avacha Bay (Mwmax=6.1) in May 2013. It is the strongest earthquake swarm registered by the Kamchatka network during the period of detailed seismological observations since 1962

The Population Genetic Organization of Pacific Cod Gadus macrocephalus in the North Pacific Based on Microsatellite Analysis

Six groups have been identified in the species' population structure based on the analysis of microsatellite markers' polymorphism in Pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus samples within the entire western part of the North Pacific, including waters of the Pacific coast of Canada. The first group includes cod from waters of the Yellow Sea; the second group consists of cod from the Sea of Japan (eastern coast of Korea and Peter the Great Bay); the third group combines cod from Tatar Strait and the South Kuril Islands (both Sea of Okhotsk and Pacific Ocean sides); the fourth group is formed by cod from the northwestern Sea of Okhotsk and Taui Bay; the fifth-largest group includes cod from waters off western Kamchatka, the North Kuril Islands (Sea of Okhotsk and Pacific Ocean sides), Karaginsky Bay, Navarinsky area in the Bering Sea, and Anadyr Bay; the sixth group is formed by cod from coastal waters of Canada.

2016 volcano eruptions in Kamchatka and the Northern Kuriles and their danger to aviation

Strong explosive volcanic eruptions are extremely dangerous to the modern jet aircraft as they can produce several cubic kilometers of volcanic ash and aerosols that can be sent to the atmosphere and the stratosphere in several hours to several days during the eruption. In 2016, five from thirty active volcanoes erupted in Kamchatka (Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, Bezymianny, Karymsky, and Zhupanovsky) and three from six active volcanoes in the Northern Kuriles (Alaid, Ebeko, and Chikurachki). Effusive volcanic activity was noted at Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, Bezymianny and Alaid. All the volcanoes produced explosive activity. Strong explosive events occurred at Sheveluch mainly from September till December. Moderate ash emission had accompanied of Klyuchevskoy’s eruption through March till November. Explosive activity at Karymsky, Zhupanovsky, Alaid, and Chikurachki volcanoes was observed mainly in the first half of the year. The total area covered by ash in 2016 was estimated 600,000 km2, from which 460,000 km2 were related to the eruptions of Kamchatka volcanoes and 140,000 km2 were attributed to the eruption of the North Kuriles volcanoes. The activity at Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, and Zhupanovsky was dangerous to international and local airlines as explosions produced ash up to 10-12 km above sea level. The activity at Bezymianny, Karymsky, Alaid, Ebeko, and Chikurachki posed a threat to local aircrafts when explosions sent ash up to 5 km above sea level.

2016 volcano eruptions in Kamchatka and the Northern Kuriles and their danger to aviation

Strong explosive volcanic eruptions are extremely dangerous to the modern jet aircraft as they can produce several cubic kilometers of volcanic ash and aerosols that can be sent to the atmosphere and the stratosphere in several hours to several days during the eruption. In 2016, five from thirty active volcanoes erupted in Kamchatka (Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, Bezymianny, Karymsky, and Zhupanovsky) and three from six active volcanoes in the Northern Kuriles (Alaid, Ebeko, and Chikurachki). Effusive volcanic activity was noted at Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, Bezymianny and Alaid. All the volcanoes produced explosive activity. Strong explosive events occurred at Sheveluch mainly from September till December. Moderate ash emission had accompanied of Klyuchevskoy’s eruption through March till November. Explosive activity at Karymsky, Zhupanovsky, Alaid, and Chikurachki volcanoes was observed mainly in the first half of the year. The total area covered by ash in 2016 was estimated 600,000 km2, from which 460,000 km2 were related to the eruptions of Kamchatka volcanoes and 140,000 km2 were attributed to the eruption of the North Kuriles volcanoes. The activity at Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, and Zhupanovsky was dangerous to international and local airlines as explosions produced ash up to 10-12 km above sea level. The activity at Bezymianny, Karymsky, Alaid, Ebeko, and Chikurachki posed a threat to local aircrafts when explosions sent ash up to 5 km above sea level.

The 2016 Eruptions in Kamchatka and on the North Kuril Islands: The Hazard to Aviation

Large explosive eruptions of volcanoes pose the highest hazard to modern jet flights, because such eruptions can eject as much as several cubic kilometers of volcanic ash and aerosol into the atmosphere during a few hours or days. The year 2016 saw eruptions on 5 of the 30 active Kamchatka volcanoes (Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, Bezymianny, Karymsky, and Zhupanovsky) and on 3 of the 6 active volcanoes that exist on the North Kuril Islands (Alaid, Ebeko, and Chikurachki). Effusive activity was observed on Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, Bezymianny, and Alaid. All volcanoes showed explosive activity. The large explosive events mostly occurred from September through December (Sheveluch), a moderate ash emission accompanied the entire Klyuchevskoy eruption in March–November, and explosive activity of Karymsky, Zhupanovsky, Alaid, and Chikurachki was mostly observed in the earlier half of the year. The ash ejected in 2016 covered a total area of 600 000 km2, with 460 000 km2 of this being due to Kamchatka volcanoes and 140 000 km2 to the eruptions of the North Kuril volcanoes. The activity of Sheveluch, Klyuchevskoy, and Zhupanovsky was dangerous to international and local flights, because the explosions sent ash to heights of 10–12 km above sea level, while the eruptions of Bezymianny, Karymsky, Alaid, Ebeko, and Chikurachki were dangerous for local flights, since the ash did not rise higher than 5 km above sea level.

Chemical weathering fluxes from Paramushir volcanic island (Kuril Island arc, Russia)

The rates of the chemical erosion for Paramushir Island, north Kuril Arc, were studied. The rates of the chemical erosion for Paramushir Island, north Kuril Arc, were studied. They were based on the results of the flow rate measurements and chemical analyses of 35 river’s water, sampled in July 2017. The silicate weathering fluxes caused by the subsurface thermal and two different types of surface waters (acid SO4 and near-neutral Na (Ca)-HCO3) of Paramushir have been estimated as 1095±200, 203 ±100 and 64 ± 20 t/km2/year, respectively. The total chemical weathering flux for Paramushir Island is estimated as 120± 40 t/km2/year.

Pest categorisation of Cronartium harknessii, Cronartium kurilense and Cronartium sahoanum.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Cronartium harknessii, Cronartium kurilense and Cronartium sahoanum, which are well‐defined and distinguishable tree fungal pathogens of the family Cronartiaceae. In 2018, these species were moved from the genus Endocronartium to the genus Cronartium. These pathogens are not known to be present in the EU and are regulated in Council Directive 2000/29/EC (Annex IAI) (as non‐European Endocronartium spp.) as harmful organisms whose introduction into the EU is banned. These three fungi are autoecious rusts completing their life cycle on Pinus spp. C. harknessii is known as the western gall rust or pine‐pine gall rust in North America (Canada, the USA and Mexico). C. kurilense and C. sahoanum are reported from Russia (North Kuril Islands) and Japan. The pathogens could enter the EU via host plants for planting and cut branches. The pathogens could establish in the EU, as climatic conditions are favourable and Pinus spp. are common. The pathogens would be able to spread following establishment by movement of host plants for planting and cut branches, as well as natural spread. Should these pathogens be introduced in the EU, impacts can be expected on pine forests, plantations, ornamental trees and nurseries. The pathogens cause formation of stem galls, which kill young trees and result in stem defect in older trees. The main knowledge gap concerns the limited available information on C. kurilense and C. sahoanum compared to C. harknessii. The criteria assessed by the Panel for consideration of C. harknessii, C. kurilense and C. sahoanum as potential quarantine pests are met, whilst, for regulated non‐quarantine pests, the criterion on the pest presence in the EU is not met.

Reservoir Correction for the Central and North Kuril Islands in North Pacific Context

AbstractWe present new marine reservoir ΔR correction terms for the central and northern Kuril Islands. We estimate ΔR from a series of archaeological charcoal-shell pairs from two archaeological sites using standard calibration procedures and Monte Carlo simulation. The combined ΔR estimate for all paired samples for the Kuril samples is 508±127 yr. In the context of available North Pacific Rim ΔR estimates, the new Kuril data support the interpretation of a well-mixed, 14C-depleted North Pacific Subarctic Gyre. For the broader subarctic North Pacific region, a ΔR estimate in the range of 440±127 yr is a reasonable correction for any coastal marine shell date, and may be applied to fish and marine mammal dates for taxa known to reside within these waters throughout their life-histories. This generalization fails as one moves south from Hokkaido along the East Asian coast. There, well-equilibrated subtropical water minimize the ΔR offset.

Scoliorhapis stepanovi-new species of sea cucumber from the North-West Pacific (Holothuroidea: Synaptida: Chiridotidae: Taeniogyrinae)and some remarks on the genus Scoliorhapis.

New species Scoliorhapis stepanovi has been collected from depths of 10-23 m on the sandy bottom of Avacha Bay (east coast of Kamchatka), Paramushir Island (North Kuril Islands), and Matua Island (Middle Kuril Islands). It is unique in having sigmoid ossicles in the body wall with points at both ends (without an open-eye, and with the two points lying in a perpendicular plane). Such sigmoids do not occur in any other taeniogyrinid species. The two-pointed sigmoids are 80-115 µm in length, and are scattered in the body wall and not clustered. Probably the two-pointed sigmoids are underdeveloped typical sigmoid with open-eye. In the tentacles there are straight and C-shaped rods, sometimes branched at the ends, 70-90 µm in length. It is assumed that atypical two-pointed sigmoid ossicles may have been originated due to deviating from the usual course of sigmoid development in the middle stages. Scoliorhapis stepanovi resembles S. lindbergi. A key for species of Scoliorhapis is provided.