Biological resources of the Sea of Azov and their use by man

According to scientists, even in the first half of the twentieth century, the biological resources of the Azov Sea were so high that they had no equal among all other bodies of water in the World Ocean. Today, the productivity of the sea is significantly reduced. The basis of industrial potential is the fish stocks, which are represented by 79 species and subspecies. But many of them no longer have commercial value due to a sharp decline in the number.

Running fish species

A feature of the representatives of this group of inhabitants of the reservoir is that they do not leave the sea waters until puberty. After this, the individuals are sent to spawn for rivers. The entire process of spawning takes one to two months.

Biological resources of the Sea of Azov distinguish the presence of such valuable commercial fish species as stellate sturgeon, beluga, sturgeon, herring, shmoy, fish. All of them belong to the category of checkpoints.

Beluga is considered to be the largest fish migrating to spawn in rivers. In the recent past, the species was not considered rare, but is now listed in the Red Book. In addition to the Azov Sea, it lives in the Caspian and the Black Sea. Azov beluga for breeding often rises along the river Don. Kuban for spawning is used by sturgeon less.

Semipermanent fish species

Pike perch, ram, bream, Chekhon are the names of fish belonging to the category of semi-passages, there are twelve of them in the group. They, as well as representatives of pass-through species, go to the spawning from the sea to the rivers. But the difference is that the entire process in semi-passages takes a long time, sometimes up to a year. In addition, the young can stay in the rivers for the entire winter period.

One of the representatives of this category of fish is pikeperch. A fairly common species, found in the basin not only of the Azov, but also of the Baltic, Caspian, Black, Aral Sea. Pike perch is a large predator, feeding on invertebrates and small fish. The size of an adult can reach one meter in length, and the mass is usually 10-15 kilograms.

Marine species

Biological resources of the Azov Sea are largely represented by this group of fish. There are 47 representatives in the category.

Marine species of fish include pilengas, gobies, flounder-kalkan, fish-needles, glossa, perkarina, tulka, three-eyed cat. The peculiarity of these fish of the Sea of Azov is that they constantly inhabit saline waters. Here there is a reproduction, the appearance of juveniles, the attainment of their sexual maturity.
Pilengas is one of the most common inhabitants of the sea. It is interesting that it was specially brought into the pool about 40-50 years ago. For a fairly short period I managed to successfully acclimatise, and already today the fish is a commercial species. The dimensions of the pilengas are impressive - up to 150 centimeters in length at a weight of up to 12 kilograms.

Migratory fish species

Describing the biological resources of the Azov Sea, it is necessary to mention the breeds that make permanent migrations. Such species of sea fish as the Azov and Black Sea anchovy, herring, sinhil, loban, horse mackerel, mackerel, wolf, Black Sea kalkan, mackerel, regularly change their habitats, crossing from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov or vice versa.

Of the four known varieties of burabli in the basin, only one of them lives. The fish keeps flocks in the bottom waters. In the upper layers of the seabed he finds small animals, which are forage by the mullet. Fish is of commercial importance.

Freshwater species

Sterling, staking, silver carp, ide, pike belong to freshwater fish, despite their habitat in the sea waters. Belonging to the group is explained by the fact that they inhabit the freshened water areas of the sea. For this reason, fish do not make large migrations. There are 13 species in the category.

Use of natural resources

Today the state of the ecology of the Sea of Azov causes alarm among specialists. Unreasonable use of natural resources, intensive reduction of river flow led to a fourfold decrease in fish species. Their total number decreased by 10-15 times. These abrupt changes in the ecosystem occurred in less than 80 years, they are related solely to human economic activity.

From the 2000th the commercial catch of sturgeon was banned due to a sharp decrease in the number of species. The Azov Sea is included in the list of reservoirs where the ban is in force. Unfortunately, the description of fish species that require careful treatment is not limited to sturgeon. Flounder, mullet, too, lost their fishing importance.

The water area of the Azov Sea waters is used for economic purposes by two states - Russia and Ukraine. The well-being of the region depends on the consistency of their actions, as well as the improvement of the ecological situation in the whole basin.