NEWFEATURESARCHIVEPANORAMASMY TRAVELNOTESPORTFOLIOBIOCONTACTSRU

KAMCHATKA PENINSULA. WILD SALMON OF THE NORTHERN AMAZON.
PAGES 1 2 3 4 5 X
Estimates of the salmon fisheries' annual value reach $600 million, and the fish are a critical source of employment for Russia and other nations. Hulks of dry-cured wild salmon seen in the camp of the Wild Salmon Center - scientific research organisation working in Kamchatka.
2006
Estimates of the salmon fisheries' annual value reach $600 million, and the fish are a critical source of employment for Russia and other nations. Hulks of dry-cured wild salmon seen in the camp of the Wild Salmon Center - scientific research organisation working in Kamchatka.
2006
All six native species of pacific salmon remain abundant on Kamchatka. The Kol river has as many as five million returning salmon each year. River's coast heaped up with remains of fish. Driven by the natural instinct salmon run aground after spawn.
2006
The Wild Salmon Center and Moscow State University work in Kamchatka to conserve salmon. Two biological stations with one existing protected area status have been set up in different areas of the Russian Amazon. 7 protected areas are proposed. Their purpose would be to produce wild salmon - for food, profit, recreation and scientific study.
2006
The Wild Salmon Center and Moscow State University work in Kamchatka to conserve salmon. Each biological station is located in a very remoted area of peninsula and all equipment, fuel and products are delivered only by the helicopters.
2006
Scientists of the Wild Salmon Center and Moscow State University prepare to sample fish down the Utkholok River.
2006
Scientists of the Wild Salmon Center and Moscow State University make measurements of juvenile salmon down the Kol River.
2006
Scientists of the Wild Salmon Center and Moscow State University have enmarked silver salmon down the Kol River.
2006
Scientists of the Wild Salmon Center and Moscow State University make measurements of silver salmon down the Kol River.
2006

RUSSIAN KAMCHATKA - A NEARLY MYTHICAL PENINSULA, KNOWN AS "NORTHERN AMAZON", WHOSE WILD AND UNTOUCHED REGION OF VOLCANOES AND GLACIERS WAS A CLOSED SOVIET MILITARY ZONE UNTIL 15 YEARS AGO. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE LAST SALMON STRONGHOLDS ON A PLANET. EVERY YEAR TENS OF MILLIONS OF PACIFIC SALMON SPAWN IN THE WATERSHEDS OF KAMCHATKA. AS A RESULT OF ECONOMICAL CHAOS AND DISINTEGRATION OF SOVIET FISHING INDUSTRY ON RUSSIA'S FAR EAST, POACHING  - FROM SUBSISTENCE HARVEST TO INDUSTRIAL-SCALE EGG-STRIPPING OF SALMON FOR CAVIAR - IS NEARLY UNCHECKED. A FEW OF THE PENINSULA'S SALMON RIVERS ARE ALMOST DEPLETED AND OTHERS ARE AT RISK. HOWEVER, THERE IS A CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM AND EVEN AN EXAMPLE IN WHICH RUSSIA IS AHEAD OF THE UNITED STATES!

AMERICAN WILD SALMON CENTER AND MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY TOGETHER WITH KAMCHATKA'S GOVERNMENT ARE AT WORK ON PROPOSALS THAT WOULD DESIGNATE 7 SALMON-PROTECTED AREAS, THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST OF IT'S KIND. THE PROTECTED AREA - MORE THAN 6.000.000 ACRES OF LAND WITH 9 ENTIRE RIVERS - WOULD EXCEED THE SCALE OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK OR ADIRONDACK PARK. EACH RIVER WOULD HAVE A BIOLOGICAL STATION TO STUDY THE ECOLOGY OF THE RIVER AND THE FISH.

THE AREAS WOULD BE PROTECTED FROM MOST DEVELOPMENT AND REMAIN GENETIC RESERVE OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMMERCIALLY AND CULTURALLY IMPORTANT FISH. 

© 2010 Dima Beliakov


design by AlT