"Vikenty Zaytsev" Vessel Will Help Scientists Preserve Baikal Biodiversity

Starting in 2025, a modern scientific research vessel "Vikenty Zaytsev" will begin operations on Lake Baikal, which will help preserve the lake's biodiversity. A solemn ceremony marking the beginning of the launch of the ship took place in the Irkutsk region. It is built for the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) to work on Baikal and will assist in continuing the program to restore the omul population.

This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Irkutsk Region.

"It is essential that a vessel of this class and level is appearing on Baikal. It will allow for full-fledged studies of the water bioresources of Baikal, and more accurately forecast the lake's ecological condition since scientists will conduct not only resource surveys, but also other research types along with the Russian Academy of Sciences," the message quotes the words of the head of Rosrybolovstvo, Ilya Shestakov.

He noted that within the framework of the omul conservation under the national project "Ecology," the release of omul fry for reproduction increased fivefold. After the reconstruction of the Bolsherechensky Omul Fish Hatchery, it is planned to release about 1-1.2 billion fry annually.

It is expected that the new vessel will allow scientists to conduct regular scientific research throughout the Baikal basin for the restoration of the omul catch and preservation of the lake's biodiversity.

It is planned that the vessel will be able to begin work in 2025. It is equipped with an echosounder for hydroacoustic research aimed at estimating the number of fish, a trawl complex for catching specimens and biological analysis, and a multifunctional laboratory that allows for quickly conducting research on samples and materials..