#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Nornickel released several batches of nelma (salmon family) fry in the regions where the company operates. The latest releases of juvenile nelma on the Taimyr peninsula are part of a comprehensive program that Nornickel is implementing to reduce its impact on the environment.
Last week, almost 55 000 nelma fry, grown to one gram, were released into the Taimyr waters. The juveniles were raised at the Norilsk fish hatchery and the Glavrybvod federal state budgetary institution’s hatchery plant. The replenishment of biological resources was carried out by ecologists at Medvezhy Rouchey LLC (part of the Nornickel group) under the agreement with Rosrybolovstvo. About 10 million rubles were spent for these purposes.
The first release of nelma this year took place on June 13 – 36 205 juveniles of the valuable northern fish were released into the Yenisey river in the Dudinka area.
The second batch of juvenile nelma with a total of 18 766 pieces replenished lake Keta (part of the Norilo-Pyasina water system).
“Solving environmental problems and caring for the territory where we live and work is one of the priorities of Medvezhy Rouchey LLC. Activities for the artificial reproduction of aquatic biological resources are carried out annually. Serious scientific work was made before the juveniles’ release. For example, in lake Keta, where the fish will be released, there is a good food supply. The fry will be able to find food and shelter, which will ensure their survival. Previously, we released sturgeon near Krasnoyarsk. This year, for the first time, nelma was purchased for release into the reservoirs of Taimyr. This is a valuable species of fish, which, by the way, is prohibited from catching”, said Yury Semenov, head of the department of industrial ecology and environmental protection of Medvezhy Ruchey LLC.
Since nelma cannot stay in the air for a long time, fish farmers at the Norilsk plant weighed, counted and transferred the fry into transport containers quickly so as not to keep the fry out of the aquatic environment for a long time.
“The nelma broodstock was raised from March to June. The plant has created special conditions for growing fish, including dim lighting and the use of Pyasina and Norilka river water. Also for cultivation it is necessary to control water temperature, planting density, feeding regime and the quality of this feed. Nelma prefer live food such as brine shrimp and require a certain level of oxygen. Before release, the fry are adapted to cooler water, reducing the temperature to +4 degrees to avoid stress and ensure survival in natural conditions”, said Valentina Zadoynova, chief fisherman at the Norilsk fish hatchery and the Glavrybvod federal state budgetary institution’s hatchery plant.
According to specialists, growing and preparing juveniles is an extremely labor-intensive and responsible process:
“Nelma spawns at the end of September, and at the beginning of October practically waits for Norilka to freeze. Then we collect the caviar, deliver it to the factory, place it in special cabinets and flasks, where it is in the process of mixing water, simulating the natural conditions of a river flow. Closer to spring, we begin to heat the water, as it would happen in nature. The fry hatch and are distributed among the pools. We grow it, weighing at least a gram, using water directly from Norilka. We create conditions that simulate the environment under the ice: cool air, water at a temperature of about + 3, dim lighting. Then we feed and increase the water temperature. Experience shows that usually 80 to 90 percent of juveniles survive after release, which is an excellent indicator”.
Let us add, taking into account the importance of preserving the ecosystem and biodiversity, Nornickel annually releases juveniles of various fish species, such as sturgeon, nelma and grayling.
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Text: Maria Sanina, Photo: Nikolay Shchipko
