Deep-sea inhabitants of the Barents Sea. Sea fishing in the Barents Sea - fishing in Teriberka
The ichthyofauna of the Barents Sea is the richest. At least 140 species have been recorded here. Most of them are typical marine forms that spend their entire lives in salt waters and reproduce here. Some species are migratory (salmon, brown trout, char, whitefish, etc.). Their life cycle takes place in both salt and fresh water. Some species belong to river fish and are found only in desalinated waters near river mouths (pike, ide, palim)
All fish and fish-like species living in the Barents Sea represent 53 families. The richest species are cod (18 species) and eelpout (13 species). gobies (12 species), flounders (9 species), salmon and skates (7 species each). Most families are represented by 1-2 species.
Many commercial fish They make long migrations and can be found in different areas in different seasons of the year, penetrating far to the north and east. These are, first of all, the most important fish for trawl fishing, such as cod, haddock, and sea bass. Some fish, such as capelin and herring, dramatically change their habitat with age, others, living in the bottom layers, do not migrate and are found throughout all seasons in the same places.
In relation to temperature conditions, all barnacled fishes can be classified into two groups: representatives of the boreal-arctic or warm-water-boreal fauna. Most of sea fish. of commercial importance, belongs to the boreal-low Arctic fauna, i.e., organisms widespread in the seas south of the Arctic Circle, but adapted to life in more severe conditions. For such species (ceibdb. capelin, cod), the Barents Sea is the northern or eastern limit of distribution. The borsal fauna is home to about half of all species, but they are usually found only in the western part of the sea, without going far to the east. Typical representatives of the other group are cod and navaga. Among the warm-water guests in the Barents Sea, mackerel, blue whiting, whiting, and argentina are noted. gate
Compared to the Barents Sea, the species composition of the ichthyofauna of the White Sea is much poorer. According to some researchers, 51 species have been registered. according to others, 68. Of these, 12 are semi-passable. The impoverishment of the ichthyofauna of the White Sea is explained primarily by the unique living conditions of animals; it is not for nothing that it is called a sea of contrasts. By its nature, it is a harsh and cold sea. But in summer it becomes warm water. Boreal inhabitants are forced to adapt to existence in different temperature conditions, as well as conditions of long-term (up to 6 months) fasting, naturally, sacrificing a lot. As a result, they are characterized by slower growth, smaller size and fecundity, and a shorter lifespan than similar species inhabiting the Barents Sea, where seasonal changes conditions occur gradually, without a sharp transition from winter to summer. This is clearly seen in the example of the White Sea cod, which is an ancient native Atlantic Ocean. In the process of thousands of years of adaptation to difficult living conditions, it acquired a number of characteristic features that sharply distinguish it from Atlantic cod. The Belomorskaya is inferior to it in life expectancy by 2 times, in body length by 3 times, and in weight by tens of times. The average body growth per year for Atlantic cod is 16 times greater. It can reproduce for 16 years, and the White Sea - only 8 years. The fertility of the latter is also significantly lower, so during its entire life it lays almost 15 times fewer eggs.
The Arctic inhabitants of the White Sea are in incomparably better conditions. Low water temperature does not affect their life activity. All of them reproduce in winter, and after this they begin to fatten up.
The main commercial fish of the White Sea are herring, navaga, smelt, cod, flounder and whitefish. A special place is occupied by salmon. Until the mid-60s, it was caught 3-4 times more than on the Murmansk coast, and the total catch was a third of the world catch of this type of salmon. Now catches have dropped sharply. Human activity has significantly changed the ichthyofauna, unfortunately, not in better side. The introduction of new fishing gear and improved means of transportation led to the destruction of previously numerous populations, such as Atlantic herring. Pollution of water bodies, regulation of river flows. the creation of artificial reservoirs, the construction of dams, and the floating of timber seriously affect fish stocks. Various acclimatization measures - breeding new species - can have negative consequences. This can and has already led to the undermining of local populations and the disappearance of the fish species most adapted to certain conditions.
Sharks. A rather primitive group of animals that has a number of specific differences from bony fish. For example, sharks do not have real bones; their skeleton is cartilaginous. Top part the caudal fin is larger than the lower one. The skin is covered with special placoid scales. The jaws of sharks are well armed with sharp teeth arranged in several rows.
Several species of sharks live in Arctic waters. Of these, it stands out for its size giant shark, reaching 11-13 m. The herring shark is much smaller, as well as the widespread spiny dogfish shark, reaching only 1 m in length. The latter species began to be hunted in our century because of fish oil, which is extracted from the liver, and also began to be used for processing into fishmeal. Previously, back in the last century, the basis of the shark fishery was the polar shark, whose length exceeds 6 m and weighs about 1000 kg. Currently, this fishery has almost completely ceased.
TO cartilaginous fish include stingrays, very peculiar marine animals. These are typically bottom-dwelling organisms, as is clearly evidenced by their appearance: the stingray’s body is flat, as if flattened. In our region there are star, arctic, smooth, shagreen and spiny stingrays.
The Herring family includes the most common commercial species, such as Atlantic and Atlantic-Scandinavian herring. The biology of herring is very interesting. Upon reaching sexual maturity (by 5-6 years), such fish form spawning schools. Depending on the time of spawning, eggs are deposited in a continuous layer on the bottom either near the coast or on ocean banks. The main spawning grounds for Murmansk herds are the shores of Norway. Herring no longer returns to the Barents Sea. The hatched larvae form large aggregations during the first year of life. The size of the larvae is 0.5 cm, the size of an adult animal reaches 40 cm and weighs 600 g. Usually, the herring is much smaller. In summer and autumn, herring approaches the northern shores of the Kola Peninsula. In rich harvest years, Atlantic herring also enters the Beloye Mors.
A variety of Atlantic herring is the small White Sea herring, which in some years plays a large role in fishing. Herrings also include sprat and others.
Whitefish family. One of the hard to define groups. There are believed to be 6 species in Northern Europe, which are divided into more than 50 subspecies and forms. Whitefishes are related to another family - salmon fish. What both families have in common is the presence of an adipose fin. But there are also differences: whitefish have larger scales and a smaller mouth. lack of teeth on the jaws and a deep notch on the caudal fin. The color of whitefish is silver-gray. They are very widespread in both rivers and lakes.
IN Murmansk region whitefish is the most important commercial fish. Forms a large number of groups - each large lake has more than one herd, which differ in appearance, lifestyle, and behavior. Some herds migrate. Whitefish feed on various small crustaceans. Spawning usually occurs in the fall, but different groups timing may vary. Eggs are deposited on pebble shallows. Its further development before hatching takes place within 2 months.
The same family includes vendace and peled.
Family Salmonidae. Representatives of this family are quite large in size. The body (except for the head) is completely covered with scales. All have an adipose fin, which is located between the dorsal and caudal fins. The origin of this family is connected only with the northern hemisphere; they came to more southern bodies of water due to acclimatization. Many species make feeding migrations to the sea and thrive in cold waters. Due to the ability to live in both sea (salt) and fresh water and migration from rivers to lakes and seas, these fish are called anadromous. The most important migratory species is salmon.
Atlantic (noble) salmon. In the North of Russia, Atlantic salmon is called salmon. This - big fish, reaching a length of 1.5 m. Individual specimens can weigh up to 30-40 kg. The body of salmon is elongated, moderately compressed laterally, with a relatively thin caudal peduncle. The caudal fin in adult fish has a shallow notch. The color of Atlantic salmon changes at different stages of its life cycle. Juveniles have from 8 to 11 wide dark transverse stripes on their sides, between which small red spots are visible, hence the name - parr. Towards the end of the river life period, the juveniles change their color: the transverse striping disappears, and the body color from yellowish-greenish or olive becomes silver. Salmon that live in the sea have a silver-white body underneath and a brown-green back. Small X-shaped dark spots are scattered across the surface of the body, especially above the lateral line. As spawning approaches, sexually mature fish begin to acquire nuptial plumage (loose). They lose their silver color and become bronze or brown. Red and orange spots appear on the head and sides. Not only the appearance changes, but also the skeleton. In males, the front teeth enlarge, the snout and lower jaw lengthen and curve in a hook-like manner (sometimes similar changes are observed in old females). During this period, the fish stop feeding.
Being a typically migratory fish, Atlantic salmon spends part of its life in the sea and part in the river. On the Kola Peninsula, Lake Imandra is home to salmon, whose entire life cycle takes place in fresh water. Salmon from the rivers of the Barents and White Seas feed in the Norwegian Sea, where they stay close to the shore - at depths of no more than 120 m. They feed on capelin, sand lance, herring, smelt and other fish, as well as some crustaceans. Having lived at sea from 1 to 3-4 years. adult individuals migrate (up to 1.5 thousand km long) to the rivers where they hatched. Here, sea-raised salmon reproduce.
Salmon spawning occurs in October - November, when the water temperature in the rivers drops to 9-7 ° C. For this, areas with a current speed of 0.5 to 1.5 m/ss and depths of 0.2 to 1.5-2 m are selected. The female uses body movements and tail, digs a depression 2-3 m long in the sand and pebble soil, where it lays eggs, which are immediately inseminated by males. She then uses her tail to cover the eggs with gravel and pebbles, thus making a nest. Spawning of each female can last up to two weeks. During this time, she makes several nests.
Most adult Atlantic salmon die after the first spawning. Some of the spawned spawners survive and come to spawn a second time. Individual specimens can survive even after the second spawning and come to the river for the third, and in exceptional cases, for the fourth time. The surviving spawned individuals (the roller) sometimes roll into the sea water soon after spawning, but more often they remain in the river for the winter and leave in the spring after the ice breaks up. At the same time, they begin to actively feed. An interesting biological feature of salmon is the presence of dwarf males in its population. Unlike ordinary migratory fish, they never leave rivers and become sexually mature already in the second year of life with a length of only about 10 cm. In appearance, dwarf males differ little from juveniles (pargers), but they participate in spawning together with ordinary males.
Hatching of the embryos occurs in April - May. Juveniles spend from 1 to 5 years in rivers, most often 2-4 years. It grows slowly during this period: before migrating to the sea average length juveniles are 10-15 cm, and body weight does not exceed 20 g.
Despite the high fertility of salmon (one female lays from 3 to 10 thousand eggs), the commercial return from eggs spawned by the female is very low - only 0.04-0.12%,” with 87-90% of the fry emerging from the nests dying on the first same year of life in the river, and less than 1% survive to go to sea.
Industrial salmon fishing was carried out in 18 rivers of the Kola Peninsula. However, due to unsustainable fishing, the numbers of many populations decreased significantly, and fishing had to be stopped. So. As a result of hydraulic construction, the populations of the Teriberka and Voronya rivers were lost. In the future, there may be a loss of Drozdovka populations. Ivanovka and Iokangi. Currently, only some rivers of the peninsula have preserved salmon populations of commercial importance (the Var-Zuga and Umba rivers). The largest population in the Barents Sea basin is the Pechora population, the average annual number of which in different periods ranged from 80 to 160 thousand. In the last decade, annual catches have decreased by 2 times. There are many reasons for this. Continued rafting of timber on salmon rivers, construction of various types of hydroelectric power stations. Unsustainable fishing, poaching, pollution of water bodies with industrial waste - all together lead to a decrease in the reserves of this most valuable fish in our region.
Pink salmon. Work on the acclimatization of Pacific salmon - pink salmon - in the waters of the Barents and White Seas began in 1956. Caviar from the Far East was delivered by plane to fish hatcheries in our region, where it was pre-incubated. Over the course of a number of years, hatcheries in the Northern Basin produced from 6 to 36 million juveniles. In addition, for several years at the Taybolsky plant, additional fry were obtained from eggs collected from local producers. In some years, pink salmon entered the rivers of the European North in large quantities. Such massive visits to the Kola Peninsula were observed in 1960, 1965, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1977. After the import of caviar ceased in 1978, the number of pink salmon began to decline. IN last years Single specimens enter the rivers of the Barents Sea basin.
Spawning of pink salmon in the rivers of the Murmansk region occurs in August - October when the water temperature in the river drops to 5 ° C and below. In sexually mature individuals, the nuptial plumage begins to appear while still at sea, but it takes on its final form already at the spawning grounds. The spawning of pink salmon is similar to the spawning of other salmon. The average fertility of a female is 1.5 thousand eggs. After spawning, the spawners die. The young leave their nests the next year when the water temperature in the river is above 5°C and almost immediately migrate to the sea. In a year. Having become sexually mature, pink salmon return to the river to procreate. The entry of fish begins in May, reaches its maximum in July - August and continues until October.
Many years of work on acclimatization of fbush in the Barents and White Seas did not produce encouraging results. However, this species of salmon can be quite used as an object of mariculture. In this regard, in recent years, the development of methods for pasture cultivation of pink salmon has begun in Bely Mors. For these purposes, in 1984-^-1985. The delivery of pink salmon caviar from the Magadan region to the Onega fish hatchery was resumed, which was reconstructed specifically for the incubation of caviar of this species.
In recent years, it has been used for acclimatization the new kind- steelhead salmon, one of the varieties of which is rainbow trout. This species was originally distributed in the rivers of the West Coast of North America, but then it began to actively spread to other continents. Representatives of this species grow well, are more resistant to high temperatures, and tolerate slight pollution of water bodies, so they are used for breeding in reservoirs where heated water is discharged from nuclear power plants. For example, at the Kola Nuclear Power Plant such experiments had some success.
However, the release of new species into local water bodies is highly undesirable, since they can displace valuable local species such as brown trout. It lives in lakes and can weigh up to 4 kg. To spawn, it rises into rivers and streams with fast currents. The biology of brown trout is similar to that of its close relative, salmon. Brown trout have 2 main forms - migratory and residential. It is extremely sensitive to water quality and absolutely cannot tolerate pollution of water bodies.
The rapids of most rivers in the Murmansk region are inhabited by brook trout, which are smaller than brown trout, although both belong to the same species. The difference in size is explained by their habitat and... hence, differences in nutrition and growth rates. Trout and brown trout differ in color only as adults, but juveniles are very similar.
Arctic char, or palia, a fish with very small scales that reaches large sizes (up to 10 kg or more), should also be included in this species. Lake char is much smaller. Char is a valuable fishery target, like other salmon. It is very sensitive to water quality, temperature conditions, pollution chemicals, as well as to acclimatizing species. In this regard, special methods of protecting char are needed to prevent its loss from the ichthyofauna of our water bodies.
Grayling (Harpus family) is also sensitive to unfavorable factors. This species is widespread in water bodies of the Murmansk region. The size of grayling is small, usually does not exceed 40 cm (rarely - up to 50 cm), weight - in the range of 1 -1.5 kg. This is a typical river fish that prefers clean, transparent water rich in oxygen. Grayling also lives in lakes. It feeds on insect larvae (caddisflies, mayflies), as well as mollusks, small crustaceans and adult insects that have fallen into the water, especially during the mass summer of mayflies and caddisflies.
Smelt family. Small relatives of noble salmon and brown trout. Very widespread. Many of them are typically marine species, some go to fresh water bodies for spawning, and not most of lives there permanently. Representatives of this family have dorsal and adipose fins, and scales fall off easily. Freshwater smelt rarely exceeds 20 cm. The mouth is large, and there are large teeth on the jaws. Freshly caught smelt smells like fresh cucumber. Spawning is taking place in early spring, still under the ice. In addition to the fact that smelt is of commercial importance, it is also of great importance as an object of mass food for other species of fish. Very sensitive to water pollution.
Capelin. This is a medium-sized schooling pelagic fish with a body length of up to 20-22 cm. It is found in the Arctic waters of the North Atlantic, including throughout the Barents Sea. Sometimes, in years large numbers, also enters the White Sea. During the year it makes regular migrations (feeding, wintering, spawning). Depending on the season, the fish is concentrated in different areas sea area. In summer, during the feeding period, schools of large mature capelin live in the northeastern regions of the sea; smaller immature ones (at the age of 1-2 years) accumulate in the central regions. In September - October, with the seasonal cooling of the Barents Sea waters, the wintering migration of sexually mature capelin begins: from the feeding areas, the fish moves in the southern and southwestern directions. During the initial wintering period in the central regions of the Barents Sea, accumulations of individuals of various age groups- mixing of mature and immature fish occurs here. Later, separation occurs: large individuals (14-20 cm long) migrate to the southern regions for spawning, and immature capelin remain in wintering areas (north of 74°30"N).
The main spawning of Barents Sea capelin occurs most often from February to May in the areas of Finnmarken and on the Murmansk coast at depths from 12 to 280 m. Females spawn weakly sticky eggs directly to the bottom - onto sand or fine gravel. In the period from April to June, a massive hatching of larvae occurs, which are carried from the spawning areas by the Murmansk and Novaya Zemlya currents in the eastern and northeastern directions. At the end of August - beginning of September, juvenile capelin (its length at this time is 3-4 cm) spreads in the central part of the Barents Sea (up to 76-77° N). and to the east it reaches the shores of Novaya Zemlya. In October - November, capelin underyearlings, mixing with mature fish that come from the feeding grounds from the north, create wintering aggregations.
Capelin is characterized by a rapid growth rate in the initial period of life. By the end of the first year, the length of the fish averages 10-12 cm. Barents Sea capelin reaches its maximum length (20-22 cm) at the age of 4 years. The maximum age for males is 7 years, for females - 6. Capelin is a typical planktivore.
Its main food is abundant species of meso- and macroplankton (calanus, euphausiids, hyperiids, chstognaths). In general, capelin feed on any available food. Following food, it makes vertical migrations, the daily rhythm of which is most pronounced in March - April: with sunrise, capelin descends to the bottom layers of the sea, and with sunset it rises to the upper horizons. In summer, under polar day conditions, vertical migrations, although observed, do not have a clear daily rhythm.
In recent years, capelin stocks have been severely undermined, mainly due to the irrational method of fishing - deep-sea trawls. Therefore, it was decided to stop fishing for several years to restore capelin stocks.
Cod family. Exclusively marine fish (except for one species). They have 2-3 dorsal fins and 1-2 anal fins, a barbel on the chin, and small scales. Distinctive feature These fish are characterized by the absence of spines on all fins. About 30 species live in European waters, of which the most important is cod, which is very widespread. Keeps in packs. It feeds on various crustaceans, worms, fish, especially small species such as gerbil and capelin. Adult fish migrate as different races of cod spawn at different depths and in different areas.
Cod has long been the most important commercial species. If earlier there were quite large specimens - up to 90 kg, then in recent years cod has been much smaller in size - on average about 10 kg or less. The biology of cod is well understood, but there are still many problems. The most important of them is determining the size of the fish catch and proper management of the fishery, since the cod population in the Barents Sea basin has been severely undermined.
Other commercial marine fish include sea bass, haddock, halibut and catfish. Among the representatives of freshwater fauna, in addition to the species already mentioned, it is worth noting pike and river perch, which are found in many reservoirs and are well known to amateur fishermen.
Finishing short review class of fish, we note that the ichthyofauna of the Murmansk region is rich and diverse. Since ancient times, fish have been hunted in the seas, lakes and rivers of the Kola North. The most important commercial species There were and still are cod, halibut and salmon. Excessive fishing, irrational fishing methods, and severe environmental pollution have sharply reduced fish stocks. It is no coincidence that in recent years the fishing fleet has been fishing far beyond our territorial waters. At the end of the 80s, the question arose about introducing a ban on fishing in the Barents Sea. Several fish hatcheries were built, 3 fishery reserves were organized on the rivers Note, Ponoye and Varzuga, and the fight against poaching and pollution of water bodies is underway. However, this is clearly not enough and more drastic measures are required to prevent the depletion of the composition of the ichthyofauna and the population size of especially valuable species.
The Barents Sea is located on the continental shelf. The southwestern part of the sea does not freeze in winter due to the influence of the North Atlantic Current. The southeastern part of the sea is called the Pechora Sea. The Barents Sea has great importance for transport and fishing - large ports are located here - Murmansk and Vardø (Norway). Before World War II, Finland also had access to the Barents Sea: Petsamo was its only ice-free port. Radioactive contamination of the sea due to the activities of the Soviet/Russian nuclear fleet and Norwegian reprocessing plants poses a serious problem radioactive waste. Recently, the sea shelf of the Barents Sea towards Spitsbergen has become the object of territorial disputes between the Russian Federation and Norway (as well as other states).
The Barents Sea is rich in various species of fish, plant and animal plankton and benthos. Common along the southern coast seaweed. Of the 114 species of fish living in the Barents Sea, 20 species are the most commercially important: cod, haddock, herring, sea bass, catfish, flounder, halibut, etc. Mammals include: polar bear, ringed seal, harp seal, beluga whale, etc. There is a seal fishery. Bird colonies abound on the coasts (guillemots, guillemots, kittiwake gulls). In the 20th century it was introduced king crab, which was able to adapt to new conditions and begin to multiply intensively.
Since ancient times, Finno-Ugric tribes - the Sami (Lapps) - have lived along the shores of the Berents Sea. The first visits of non-autochonous Europeans (Vikings, then Novgorodians) probably began at the end of the 11th century, and then intensified. The Barents Sea was named in 1853 in honor of the Dutch navigator Willem Barents. Scientific study The sea was started by the expedition of F.P. Litke 1821-1824, and the first complete and reliable hydrological characteristics of the sea were compiled by N.M. Knipovich at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Barents Sea is a marginal water area of the Arctic Ocean on the border with the Atlantic Ocean, between the northern coast of Europe in the south and the Vaigach Islands, New Earth, Franz Josef Land in the east, Spitsbergen and Bear Island in the west.
In the west it borders with the Norwegian Sea basin, in the south with the White Sea, in the east with the Kara Sea, and in the north with the Arctic Ocean. The area of the Barents Sea located east of Kolguev Island is called the Pechora Sea.
The shores of the Barents Sea are predominantly fjord, high, rocky, and heavily indented. The largest bays are: Porsanger Fjord, Varangian Bay (also known as Varanger Fjord), Motovsky Bay, Kola Bay, etc. East of the Kanin Nos Peninsula, the coastal topography changes dramatically - the shores are predominantly low and slightly indented. There are 3 large shallow bays: (Czechskaya Bay, Pechora Bay, Khaypudyrskaya Bay), as well as several small bays.
The largest rivers flowing into the Barents Sea are Pechora and Indiga.
Surface sea currents form a counterclockwise circulation. Along the southern and eastern periphery, the Atlantic waters of the warm North Cape Current (a branch of the Gulf Stream system) move east and north, the influence of which can be traced to the northern shores of Novaya Zemlya. The northern and western parts of the cycle are formed by local and Arctic waters coming from the Kara Sea and the Arctic Ocean. In the central part of the sea there is a system of intracircular currents. The circulation of sea waters changes under the influence of changes in winds and water exchange with adjacent seas. Tidal currents are of great importance, especially near the coast. The tides are semidiurnal, their greatest value is 6.1 m off the coast of the Kola Peninsula, in other places 0.6-4.7 m.
Water exchange with neighboring seas is of great importance in the water balance of the Barents Sea. During the year, about 76,000 km³ of water enters the sea through the straits (and the same amount leaves it), which is approximately 1/4 of the total volume of sea water. Largest quantity water (59,000 km³ per year) is carried by the warm North Cape Current, which exclusively exerts big influence on the hydrometeorological regime of the sea. The total river flow into the sea averages 200 km³ per year.
The salinity of the surface layer of water in the open sea throughout the year is 34.7-35.0 ppm in the southwest, 33.0-34.0 in the east, and 32.0-33.0 in the north. In the coastal strip of the sea in spring and summer, salinity drops to 30-32, and by the end of winter it increases to 34.0-34.5.
The Barents Sea occupies the Barents Sea plate of Proterozoic-Early Cambrian age; elevations of the bottom of the anteclise, depressions - syneclise. Among the smaller landforms are the remains of ancient coastlines, at a depth of about 200 and 70 m, glacial-denudation and glacial-accumulative forms and sand ridges formed by strong tidal currents.
The Barents Sea is located within the continental shallows, but, unlike other similar seas, most of it has a depth of 300-400 m, the average depth is 229 m and the maximum is 600 m. There are plains (Central Plateau), hills (Central, Perseus (minimum depth 63 m)], depressions (Central, maximum depth 386 m) and trenches (Western (maximum depth 600 m) Franz Victoria (430 m) and others). The southern part of the bottom has a depth of mostly less than 200 m and is characterized by a leveled relief.
The bottom sediment cover in the southern part of the Barents Sea is dominated by sand, and in some places by pebbles and crushed stone. At the heights of the central and northern parts of the sea - silty sand, sandy silt, in depressions - silt. An admixture of coarse clastic material is noticeable everywhere, which is associated with ice rafting and the wide distribution of relict glacial deposits. The thickness of sediments in the northern and middle parts is less than 0.5 m, as a result of which ancient glacial deposits are practically on the surface at some elevations. The slow rate of sedimentation (less than 30 mm per 1 thousand years) is explained by the insignificant supply of terrigenous material - due to the characteristics of the coastal topography, not a single large river flows into the Barents Sea (except for the Pechora, which leaves almost all of its alluvium within the Pechora Estuary), and The shores of the land are composed mainly of durable crystalline rocks.
The climate of the Barents Sea is influenced by the warm Atlantic Ocean and the cold Arctic Ocean. Frequent intrusions of warm Atlantic cyclones and cold Arctic air determine greater variability weather conditions. In winter, southwestern winds prevail over the sea, and in spring and summer, northeastern winds. Storms are frequent. The average air temperature in February varies from −25 °C in the north to −4 °C in the southwest. The average temperature in August is 0 °C, 1 °C in the north, 10 °C in the southwest. Cloudy weather prevails over the sea throughout the year. Annual precipitation ranges from 250 mm in the north to 500 mm in the southwest.
Severe climatic conditions in the north and east of the Barents Sea determine its high ice cover. In all seasons of the year, only the southwestern part of the sea remains ice-free. Most widespread ice cover reaches in April, when about 75% of the sea surface is occupied by floating ice. In exclusively not favorable years at the end of winter floating ice approach directly to the shores of the Kola Peninsula. The least amount of ice occurs at the end of August. At this time, the ice boundary moves beyond 78° N. w. In the northwest and northeast of the sea, ice usually remains all year round, but in some favorable years the sea is completely free of ice.
The influx of warm Atlantic waters determines the relatively high temperature and salinity in the southwestern part of the sea. Here in February - March the surface water temperature is 3 °C, 5 °C, in August it rises to 7 °C, 9 °C. North of 74° N. w. and in the southeastern part of the sea in winter the water temperature on the surface is below −1 °C, and in the summer in the north 4 °C, 0 °C, in the southeast 4 °C, 7 °C. In summer, in the coastal zone, the surface layer warm water 5-8 meters thick can warm up to 11-12 °C.
The sea is rich in various species of fish, plant and animal plankton and benthos, therefore the Barents Sea is of great economic importance as an area of intensive fishing. In addition, the sea route connecting the European part of Russia (especially the European North) with the ports of Western (since the 16th century) and Eastern countries (since the 19th century), as well as Siberia (since the 15th century) is very important. The main and largest port is the ice-free port of Murmansk - the capital of the Murmansk region. Other ports in Russian Federation- Teriberka, Indiga, Naryan-Mar (Russia); Vardø, Vadsø and Kirkenes (Norway).
The Barents Sea is a region where not only the commercial fleet, but also the Russian Navy, including nuclear submarines, are deployed.
BARENCEVO SEA.
Geographical location. Bottom relief.
The Barents Sea is limited from the north by the archipelagos of Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land, from the west by Bear Island, from the east by Novaya Zemlya, and from the south by the mainland (from Cape North Cape to the Yugra Ball). In its configuration, it resembles a rhombus, the meridial axis of which is 1300-1400 km, and the latitudinal axis is 1100-1200 km.
The area of the Barents Sea is estimated at 1360 thousand km 2. The sea is located within the continental shallows and is therefore relatively shallow. The greatest depth of the sea is 548 m. This depth is located in the western part of the sea, between the meridians 20 and 21°. As you move east, the depths decrease. The average sea depth is 199.3 m.
The Barents Sea is a part of the European continent, which in a relatively late era sank and was flooded with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Traces of river valleys are still preserved in the contours of the bottom. This is also proven by the relatively shallow depths, the flat, slightly hilly bottom topography (banks), the presence of long and wide valleys (troughs) and the geological commonality of the island rocks with the continental rocks limiting this sea.
The deepest trench is between the mainland and Bear Island. The depths here reach 500 m. The second trench runs between the Bear Islands and Spitsbergen. There is less depth here. The third trench is between Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land and the fourth is between Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya. In addition, in the middle of the sea there is a vast depression with a depth of about 400 m.
Shallow waters - the central upland, the Perseus upland, the Spitsbergen Bank, the Novaya Zemlya shallow water, the Kaninsko-Kolguevsky shallow water, the Murmansk shallow water, the Goose Bank - are separated by gutters and depressions. Depths in shallow waters do not exceed 200 m, usually ranging from 100 to 200 m. Shallow waters and banks are the main fishing areas in the Barents Sea.
Of the rivers flowing into the Barents Sea, the most significant is. Smaller rivers are , , (Motovsky Bay), , (Kola Bay), Indiga, , Chesha and others ()
Banks and soil.
The soils of the Barents Sea are mainly not of oceanic origin, but of terrigenous origin - sands, silty sands, sandy silts. In addition, in the Barents Sea there are soils of autochthonous origin. In the western part of the Barents Sea, the soils are dense, in the southwestern part spiculose silt was deposited, in the southeastern part there are yellow soils - the result of river removal, in the northern part there are brown soils containing a lot of iron and manganese.
The shores of the Barents Sea in the southwestern part of the fiord type are high, steep, composed of ancient crystalline rocks. These are the shores of Finnmarken in Norway. The Murmansk shores of Russia are also of fiord type. From Cape Kanin Nos to the east the shores are sloping and low.
Of the bays, the largest are Motovsky, Kola, of the bays - Teriberskaya, Cheshskaya with the inner, smaller Indigskaya Bay.
Hydrology.
For the Barents Sea, water exchange with the ocean is of great importance. Gulf Stream waters emerging from Gulf of Mexico, give rise to a warm Atlantic current, the branches of which penetrate into the Norwegian and Barents Seas. At the border of the Barents Sea, south of the Medvezheostrovskaya Bank, the Atlantic Current will split into the Spitsbergen and North Cape branches. The Svalbard branch, more powerful, is directed further in the form of a deep (covered by Arctic water) current into the polar basin, where it forms a warm intermediate layer. This layer was first discovered by Nansen and explored by the Papaninites during their drift on the ice floe in 1937.
The waters of the North Cape branch enter the Barents Sea between Bear Island and Cape North Cape. Due to the peculiarities of the bottom topography, this branch splits into 4 jets. Of particular importance are two southern jets that affect the water regime of the southern part of the sea. The coastal, Murmansk, branch runs along the shores of Murman, heading from the North Cape to the Kanin Peninsula. The second branch runs further north and its waters reach Novaya Zemlya. This flow scheme was established by N.M. Knipovich in 1906. Later, in the thirties, other Russian researchers made some additions to this scheme that did not change the essence of the scheme established by N.M. Knipovich.
Warm (4-12°) and at the same time saltier (34.8-35.2 ‰) Atlantic waters, entering the Barents Sea and meeting local colder and less salty waters, form the so-called polar front. When waters of different physical composition meet, Atlantic waters cool and sink. Powerful vertical circulation causes abundant aeration of deep waters and the removal of nutritious organic substances to the surface layers. As a result, biological productivity in the polar front zone is especially high.
According to L.A. Zenkevich, benthos biomass in these areas reaches 600-1000 g per 1 m2, decreasing outside these areas to 20-50 g per 1 m2.
The Barents Sea, being a transitional sea between the Norwegian - north-boreal and Kara - Arctic seas, is characterized by a corresponding temperature: in the western part, even in winter, the water temperature is positive from the surface to the bottom. In the middle part of the northern half of the sea, even in summer only a thin surface layer warms up, and deeper water has a negative temperature. In the southern half of the middle part, at a depth of 200-250 m, the water warms up in summer to 1.5-2.0°. In the northeastern part of the sea in summer and at the surface, the water temperature remains low. Off the coast of Murman, the surface temperature in August, during the period of maximum warming, reaches 12°C and even slightly more. The most low temperature in the Barents Sea at a depth of 50-75 m.
The northern and eastern parts of the sea are covered with ice for a significant part of the year. The southwestern part does not freeze, as a result of which the Murmansk coast is accessible for ships in winter.
The summer ice boundary usually runs along the line Spitsbergen - the northern tip of Novaya Zemlya, but in different years this line either moves north or, conversely, runs further south.
Ichthyofauna. Industrial fishing.
In 1921, a participant in the Northern Scientific Fishing Expedition E.K. Suvorov, during trawl operations in the Barents Sea, first noted the warming of the Barents Sea. It affected the distribution of ice and the area of ice cover. According to N.N. Zubov, the area of ice cover decreased in 1921 -1931. by 20% compared to 1901 -1906. Warming has also affected the distribution aquatic organisms. Cod began to appear off the coast of Novaya Zemlya. For the first time, significant concentrations of cod of commercial size were discovered by V.K. Soldatov in 1921 at 69°31′ northern latitude and 57°21°E longitude, that is, far to the east, where this fish had never been discovered by anyone before. Cod was even recorded in the Kara Sea. Mackerel gar (Scomberesox saurus) is a southern fish. Previously, this fish did not come east of the North Cape, but in 1937 it was discovered off the coast of Novaya Zemlya. In eastern Murman, a previously unknown perciform fish (Brama rayi) was recently discovered.
In terms of diversity of animal population, the Barents Sea is the richest in the European part of Russia. It contains about 2,500 species, not counting the protozoa. There are 113 species of fish here. The entire animal population of the Barents Sea is divided into three zoogeographic groups: arctic, boreal or boreal-arctic and warm-water. The Arctic group, living at temperatures no higher than 2-3°C, includes some mollusks, in particular Joldia arctica, many echinoderms and about 20 species of cod fish, navaga, polar flounder, some eelpouts, etc.
The boreal-Arctic group, associated with warm currents, includes some mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans and most commercial fish - cod, haddock, pollock, herring, sea bass, sea flounder, etc.
The warm-water group includes mackerel (mackerel), whiting (Odontogadus merlangus), and Argentina silus.
In terms of biological productivity, the Barents Sea is the most productive sea in the Arctic basin. In this regard, a huge number of fish from the North Atlantic Ocean come here to feed in the summer.
The richest areas were near the Medvezheostrovskaya Bank, in the zone between the 35th and 40th meridians, the Kanin Nos area and the area west and south of Novaya Zemlya. These areas coincide with the polar front lines. The unproductive areas are the northern, northeastern and western.
Of the 113 species of fish living in the Barents Sea, 97 are marine, 13 are anadromous and 3 are mixed (living in both fresh and sea water). Among marine fish, approximately half are boreal-arctic, and about 20 species are arctic. The remaining marine fish species are accidental newcomers from temperate and even tropical seas. Over 40% of all fish species are found only in the western part of the sea. As you move east, the number of fish species decreases noticeably and in the eastern part it is approximately 50% of the total number for the Barents Sea.
Particularly abundant in the Barents Sea are cod (12 species), flounder (11 species), eelpout (13 species), and gobies (Cottidae) (10 species). Salmonids in the Barents Sea basin are represented by eight species.
About 20 species of fish are used commercially, and even then not to the full extent. These types include the following:
1. Cod (Gadus morhua).
2. Murmansk herring (Clupea harengus).
3. Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus).
4. Sea bass: golden (Sebastes marinus), beaked (Sebastes mentella), small (Sebastes viviparus).
5. Pollock (Pollachius virens).
6. Capelin (Mallotus villosus).
7. Catfish: spotted Anarhichas minor, striped Anarhichas lupus, blue An. latifrons.
8. Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida).
9. Navaga (Eleginus navaga).
10. Salmon (Salmo salar).
11. Char (Salvelinus alpinus).
12. Flounder: sea flounder (Pleuronectes platessa), ruffed flounder (Limanda limanda), river flounder (Pleuronectes flesus septentrionalis), ruff flounder (Hippoglossoides platessoides).
13. Halibuts: white (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) and black (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides).
14. Czech-Pechora herring (Clupea harengus pallasi suworowi).
15. Gerbil (Ammodytis hexapterus marinus).
16. Sharks: polar (Somniosus microcephalus), spiny shark (Squalus acanthias).
17. Star stingray (Raja radiata).
The main commercial fish of the Barents Sea: cod, herring, haddock, sea bass.
BARENCEVO SEA
The sea is located within the continental shallows and is therefore relatively shallow. The average depth is 229 m, the maximum is 600 m. Depths over 400 m make up only 3% of the area, and shallow waters with depths up to 200 m make up 48%. The bottom has a very complex topography: hills and banks alternate with underwater valleys and depressions. The Barents Sea shelf is the widest in the world. It stretches from south to north for 700 miles.
The system of constant currents in the Barents Sea is influenced by many factors. The main ones are the constant influx of warm Atlantic waters, water exchange with neighboring seas and the complex bottom topography.
The heat content of the water masses of the Barents Sea is determined mainly by the influx of warm Atlantic waters, solar heating and heat loss in the autumn-winter period. It changes from year to year. This is due to pulsations of the North Cape Current and the degree of summer heating. When these processes weaken, the pressure of water masses from the north increases, which adversely affects the distribution and concentration of bottom fish in the shallow waters of the southern part of the Barents Sea.
Having many features of the Arctic seas, the Barents Sea is closely connected with the North Atlantic Ocean. The so-called Icelandic low and the Arctic high interact here. atmospheric pressure. The North Atlantic Current and its branches have a significant influence on the climate. This geographical position determined the complexity of the climate and hydrological regime of the Barents Sea.
The climate of the sea, in comparison with other Arctic seas, is characterized by mild winters, large amounts of precipitation and relatively high air temperatures in summer. In the coldest month of the year - February - the air temperature averages -25° in the north of the sea and -5° in the southwest. In August, the warmest month, the average air temperature is 0° in the north and +10° in the southwest.
In winter, northern winds with a force of 10–11 m/sec predominate; in summer, the direction of the winds is inconsistent, and their strength is approximately 2 times lower. In the Barents Sea there are frequent fogs, snow accumulations (even in June) and increased cloudiness.
Coastal waters are rich in various living organisms that serve as food for fish. There are significant thickets of green, red and especially brown algae, among which ascophyllum, a number of species of fucus and kelp stand out.
The ichthyofauna of the Barents Sea includes 114 species of fish: marine, migratory, and found only in desalinated areas of rivers. They are divided into Arctic, warm-water-Arctic and warm-water. The Arctic ones include: navaga, cod, blue and spotted catfish, black halibut; warm-water arctic - cod, haddock, striped catfish, halibut, flounder, ruffe, capelin; to warm-water ones - blue whiting, herring, pollock, flounder, ruffed fish, etc.
In terms of the number of species, the richest families are cod (19), flounder (9), salmon (7) and goby (12).
The Barents Sea is characterized by ebbs and flows, the height of which is 4 m. Thanks to them, there are strong currents in the narrow bays - lips. During high tide, whole schools of fish - cod, pollock, flounder, haddock and others - rush to the shore in search of food. This is the most favorable time for fishing with sports and amateur gear. Fishing at depths is not very accessible due to harsh conditions.
About some fish
Cod. Among the bottom fish of the Barents Sea, cod is the main view. It breeds off the northwestern coast of Norway and feeds in a wide area of the southern part of the Barents Sea and the Medvezhinsko-Spitsbergen region.
The body of cod, like other cod, is more or less elongated, covered with small cycloid scales. Fins without spines, with segmented rays. Side line white. The upper jaw protrudes strongly forward. The antennae on the chin are well developed. The color varies greatly from dark, ash-gray to greenish-gray and red with spots of dark, gray-brown, yellow and other colors.
The approach of cod to the spawning grounds usually begins in the second half of February and ends in early May. The largest and oldest cod appear on the spawning grounds first. The caviar is floating.
In the first years of life, cod makes only seasonal movements in feeding areas - coastal shallow waters. At the age of 3–4 years, cod gather in large schools, and at the age of 4–5 years they already move considerable distances.
In feeding areas and during migrations, cod stays not only near the bottom, but also in the water column.
In summer, cod lives on banks, adhering to a 200-meter isobath. In winter it usually slides to great depths.
In spring, large numbers of cod enter the southern Barents Sea from the west and move east as the water warms. Here, on the banks, it feeds intensively during the summer and, with the onset of winter cold, begins its return migrations to the west, to spawning grounds off the coast of Norway. Schools of immature cod remain in the Barents Sea for the winter. The paths of food migrations coincide mainly with the direction of currents. In spring and autumn, cod makes daily vertical migrations.
Cod grows quickly. The age limit for cod should be considered 22 years. Some cod may live longer. Thus, in July 1945, a cod was caught in the Barents Sea at the age of 24 years, 169 cm long, weighing 40 kg.
The basis of nutrition is capelin, polar cod, their own juveniles and juveniles of other fish, flounder, ruffed fish, lumpenus, gerbil and other fish. Kapshak and shrimp play an important role in nutrition.
Salmon. It breeds in the rivers of the Kola Peninsula, Karelia and the coast of the Arkhangelsk region, washed by the White and Barents seas. The female salmon digs nests in the pebbly soil of the river, lays eggs there, which are immediately fertilized by the males, and fills the nest with pebbles. After spawning, some of the spawned fish die, some overwinter in the river, and after the ice disintegrates and is carried out of the river, they roll into the sea. Some individuals, after feeding in the Barents, Norwegian and White Seas, return to their native rivers to spawn again.
After hatching from eggs and emerging from pebble nests, juvenile salmon grow and develop in the river for up to three or four years, after which they slide into the sea and go to feeding grounds located in the Barents and Norwegian Seas.
Salmon feeding at sea lasts from one to three or even more years. The size and weight of fish entering the rivers depends on the feeding time. After a year of feeding at sea, salmon (called tinda) weighs 2–2.5 kg, after two years - 3–3.6 kg. Fish that have fed in the sea for more than three years reach a weight of 9–12 kg, and some specimens even weigh 40 kg. But such giants are rare.
Sport fishing for salmon is permitted only on a few rivers flowing into the Barents and White Sea. These on the Kola Peninsula include the Titovka, Belousikha, Voronya, Kuzreka and Kanda rivers. Salmon fishing is carried out under licenses purchased for a fee from the Murmansk Regional Society of Hunters and Fishermen and from the Murman Fish Farm.
Brown trout. The closest relative of salmon is an equally interesting object of sport fishing. Its numbers have decreased noticeably in recent years. Brown trout have a residential lake form and a migratory form. At a certain age, the latter rolls into the sea and feeds there, like salmon, but unlike salmon, it does not go far and stays close to its native river. Resident lake trout reach a weight of 2 kg or more, while migratory trout gain even more weight.
There is no specialized sport marine fishery for trout, but it can be caught at the mouths of those rivers that are allocated for sport fishing for salmon under a license issued for salmon fishing.
Loach. In addition to salmon and brown trout, anadromous char, the most cold-loving form of salmon fish, can be an object of sport fishing in the Barents Sea basin. Char breeds in the rivers of the Kola Peninsula, the north of the Arkhangelsk region, Novaya Zemlya, flowing into the Barents and Kara seas, and fattens in the sea before coming to the rivers to spawn. Char reaches a weight of 2–3 kg. It is caught in the same way as salmon and brown trout, in the estuaries of rivers when moving from the sea to rivers for feeding.
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