RFE fisheries overview revealing dynamic changes in APO catch and roe output in January 2007. Part 1.

As compared to the recent three years the total harvest of aquatic biological stocks in the seas of the Russian Far East Basin in January 2007 has grown 1.7-fold exceeding the level of 100,000 tonnes. The timely approval of quota allocations and issue of fishing permits already as of 2 January have enabled vessels operating on the grounds in December 2006 to start harvesting fish out of new quotas in early January, according to fish resources in Vladivostok.

On 2 January 2007 eleven ships (who have got fishing permits) out of 29 fishing ships engaged in Alaska pollock fishery in the Bering Sea harvested ca.1000 tonnes of Alaska pollock. On the same grounds three middle vessels out of seven ships were targeting mixed bottomfish species for human consumption, while five longliners were staying idle waiting for fishing permits.

In the Sea of Okhotsk eleven vessels were hunting for herring, seven ships were targeting blue king crab and golden king crab and five trawlers were harvesting mixed bottomfish for human consumption.

In January the Russian fleet also started operations in the waters of the North Kuriles.

In the opening month of the current year 2007 contributions of the Basin's seas in its total harvest changed as compared to the same period last year. More specifically, the volume of catches in the Bering Sea increased three times and amounted to 33.5% of the Basin harvest through the month. While last year the Sea of Okhotsk contributed ca.77% of the total harvest, this year the sea's share dropped to 62%, although in volume terms catches in the Sea of Okhotsk in January 2007 exceeded those in January 2006 by 26,000 tonnes.

In general, the Alaska pollock harvest in the Sea of Okhotsk through the first month of the year jumped by 25,000 tonnes as compared to the same period last year, while the roe yield dropped by 700 tonnes.

The total harvest in the waters of the North Kuriles increased 2.3-fold.

Main species in January 2007 were herring, Alaska pollock, crabs, shrimps, cod, halibut, wachna cod and flounders.

The below table shows catches of main commercial species as compared to the corresponding period last year 2005 (provisional figures).

Species	January
	2007, ‘000 metric tons	2007, ‘000 metric tons	2007 versus 2006, +/- ‘000 metric tons
Total catch	160.52	98.37	+ 62.15
of which
Finfish
Alaska pollock	118.22	60.37	+ 57.85
Atka mackerel	1.95	1.237	+ 0.713
Cod	4.58	2.909	+ 1.671
Flounder	1.73	1.579	+ 0.151
Grenadier	0.554	0.032	+ 0.522
Halibut	0.57	0.463	+ 0.107
Herring	27.02	26.98	+ 0.04
Longfin codling Laemonema	0.073	0.186	- 0.113
Ocean perch	0.087	0.004	+ 0.083
Skates	0.135	0.117	+ 0.018
Wachna cod	3.941	2.739	+ 1.202
Other than finfish
Crabs	0.705	0.394	+ 0.311
Sea cucumber	0.002	0.031	- 0.029
Sea urchins	0.094	0.028	+ 0.66
Shrimps	0.655	0.441	+ 0.214
Squid	0.004	0.413	-0.409