"Land of the Leopard" took under protection the chum salmon that comes to spawn in local rivers

The protection of rivers in the National Park "Land of the Leopard" will be strengthened in connection with the start of salmon spawning. Reinforced task forces will guard the chum salmon entering the rivers around the clock to procreate.

The "Land of the Leopard" holds several spawning rivers. Every year, red fish - sim and chum salmon - come to spawn in them. During this period, inspectors protect it from poachers.

The press service of the national park said that every year the effectiveness of this work grew, as evidenced by the increase in spawning mounds in the Narva River. However, in 2019, the Barabashevsky Salmon Fish Hatchery installed a fish barrier facility on it, after which the occupancy of natural spawning grounds fell from 70 to 7%.

At present, despite the beginning of the fishing season, very few salmon enter the rivers in the national park. The administration of the "Land of the Leopard" expects that this will change after the introduction of at least two passing days a week on the rivers by the fish hatchery. The recommendation with such a request was reflected in the Strategy for the fishery of Pacific salmon in Primorsky Krai and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, prepared by the Pacific Research Fisheries Center.

“Despite the meager number of salmon in protected rivers, at present everything is ready for a worthy rebuff to poachers. "Land of the Leopard" protects the spawning rivers together with the border services and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Khasansky district. The close-knit work of three organizations at once is designed to increase the intensity and coverage of raids, ”the press service of the national park said.

Earlier, the management of the Land of the Leopard addressed experts with a proposal to ban salmon fishing from the Narva River, including for fish breeding purposes. Fish grown in nature are more viable and have a better chance of returning to their place of "birth". In addition, the elements and organic compounds brought annually by spawning salmon from the marine environment are necessary to maintain the life of river flora and fauna, as well as large animals. Salmon plays a role in the food chain of at least 25 species of mammals and birds, including the Amur leopard.