On the Question of Fishery Regime Regulation in the Volga-Caspian Bassin (Astrakhan Region) by the Example of North-Caspian Roach

Abstract

The article shows the assessment of fishing conditions of roach catches (the number of fishing grounds, fishing gears, catches, catches per unit of fishing effort, fishing intensity, etc.) at the main fishery objects of the Volga delta. There has been made the analysis of structure of size and gender composition of roach from commercial and amateur catches. The results have shown a depression of the population with negative dynamics in future. There have been determined main negative factors affecting the state of roach stock: unfavorable hydrological regime, incoordination in terms of commercial and amateur catches, limits of catch and size. In such circumstances the major purpose is to create a fishing regime, when maximum pass of fish spawners to spawning grounds is provided. The article proposes organizing a special regime of fishing roach with the aim to introduce additional limitations to the commercial fish catch, the main point of which is a transition from fine-meshed seines to medium-meshed seines in the day, when the water level in the Astrakhan region achieves an index mark as 350 cm. This measure will allow assuring a maximum pass of roach spawners to spawning grounds. A similar interdiction must be valid for amateur fishing. It should be noted that this interdiction is a provisional measure allowing to preserve and reproduce roach population.