Scientists outline TACs 2008 to indicate next year supply trends in the Russian Far East. Part 1.

On 16 February 2007 the Fisheries Forecasting Council of the Russian Far East held a meeting in Khabarovsk.

In the year 2008 the basin's fishery scientists recommend to harvest 3 million metric tons or 93,400 tonnes up on the TACs 2007 approved by Russia's Ministry of Agriculture (orders No.409 dated 14 December 2006 and No.439 dated 27 November 2006).

The TACs of finfish species are recommended at 2.3 million tones, shellfish at 69,500 tonnes, mollusks at 394,000 tonnes, echinoderms (sea urchins, etc.) at 20,300 tonnes, seaweed at 199,300 tonnes and mammals at 12,500 tonnes.

As compared to 2007, the TACs of finfish have been increased by 105,000 tonnes, echinoderms - by 7400 tonnes (mainly sea urchins of the South Kuriles), seaweed - by 37,000 tonnes and mammals - by 4000 tonnes.

Shellfish TACs have been decreased nearly by 23,000 tonnes, while mollusks TACs (mainly squids) have been reduced by 37,000 tonnes.

While in the current year 2007 the TACs in the West Bering Sea zone have been increased by 185,000 tonnes versus a 50,000-tonne decrease of TACs in the Sea of Okhotsk, in the year coming the TACs in the Sea of Okhotsk is recommended to grow by 135,000 tonnes with the TACs in the Bering Sea to be reduced by more than 200,000 tonnes.

TACs broken down between areas

As for particular fish species, increases are recommended for the TACs of cod, wachna cod, halibuts, saury, sculpins, smelt, anchovies, sea urchins and laminaria.

The preliminary forecast of TINRO research institute says that the Alaska Pollock TAC should be decreased by 52,000 tonnes from 1,310,000 tonnes in 2007 to 1,258,00 tonnes in the year 2008. In the coming two or three years the scientists forecast a cooling period, which normally results into distribution of the APO stock to the northwest part of the Bering Sea. Besides, the biomass of the West Bering Sea population of Alaska Pollock and the abundance of the annual recruitment have remained at low level so far. Strong classes in the APO population have not been observed in the recent years. The abundance has also been decreasing in the East Bering Sea population from 6.9 to 4-4.5 million tons in 2006. As a result, the Alaska Pollock TAC 2008 in the West Bering Sea zone and in the Karaginsk subarea is recommended to be cut by 240,000 tonnes as compared to current year. However, the scientists of Moscow-based VNIRO research institute have not yet agreed with the proposed TAC.

Recovery of the fishing stock as compared to 2004-2005 in the waters of the North Kuriles and East Kamchatka has let the scientists recommend increasing of the APO TAC in the areas by 35,000 tonnes.

Growth of the APO fishing stock in the West Kamchatka subarea has been confirmed by the research surveys and the stock is now estimated at 1.6 million tons.