Environmental monitoring of Lake Baikal

Quantity and production of water biological resources

State monitoring of aquatic biological resources is a system of regular surveillance of:
1) distribution, quantity, quality and reproduction of aquatic biological resources and their habitats;
2) fishery and conservation of aquatic biological resources.


Catch of the most valuable fish species in Lake Baikal (according to statistics) in 2006-2016, tonnes

The actual catch of omul, taking into account expert estimation of unaccounted catch, was higher than statistical data by 88% and amounted in 2016 to not less than 1,095 tonnes (in 2015 – 1,500 tonees), i.e. almost 100% of the approved total allowable catch the TAC. Thus, 47 % of the omul catch in 2016 was illegal (in 2015 – 47%, in 2014 – 45%, in 2013 – 39%, in 2012 – 37%).

In 2016, according to official figures, 10.1 tonnes of Baikal grayling were caught, in 2015 - 14.5 tonnes. According to expert estimation, the commercial catch of Baikal grayling during these years amounted to not less than 20 tonnes. But the real figure of the catch is even higher, because grayling is one of the main targets of sport and recreational fishing on Lake Baikal.

The catch of whitefish in 2016 amounted to 10.1 tonnes, but for this kind of fish a high value of unaccounted catch is common (expert evaluation of the catch in 2012-2015 was at least 20-25 tonnes, in 2016 – 19 tonnes); whitefish isn’t normally accounted for as bycatch of other species.


Catch of Baikal seals in 2006-2016, species

According to the fishing regulations, commercial catch of Baikal seals is prohibited. The hunting is carried out only to ensure traditional lifestyles and implementation of traditional economic activities of indigenous peoples, as well as for research and monitoring purposes. Only in 2016, according to official statistics, 1,631 seal species were caught. With consideration of illegal hunting, the withdrawal amounted to 2,000-2,200 animals. The total population of Baikal seals in 2016 (131.5 thousand animals) compared to 2015 (128.7 thousand animals) increased and continues to remain at a high level. Thus, the hunting load on the population of seals remains low.