Aquaculture in the Komi Republic. Problems and prospects

Studies of ichtyofauna performed in basins of large regional rivers (Pechora, Vychegda and Mezen) showed stable degradation of fish stocks of major commercial fishes. The main reasons of this degradation are unsustainable fishing and local environmental contamination in areas affected by oil industry. At the same time, development of commercial aquaculture in numerous water bodies of the republic is limited by harsh natural conditions and high ecological risks in natural waters. Prospects of aquaculture in the Komi Republic are associated with development of multifunctional fish-breeding complexes supported by installations of closed water supply providing not only marketable fish production, but also artificial reproduction of valuable and commercial fishes in order to restore their resource significance in natural water bodies.