Memoirs on events preceded the foundation of ChukotTINRO and the first stages of its formation from the former director of this scientific institution.

Long-term data on age composition for Chukchi populations of sockeye salmon are presented. Spawners of 23 ages are recognized in the period 1970-2013 for 10 populations: 2+, 3+, 0.1+, 0.2+, 0.3+, 0.4+, 0.5+, 1.1+, 1.2+, 1.3+, 1.4+, 1.5+, 2.1+, 2.2+, 2.3+, 2.4+, 2.5+, 3.1+, 3.2+, 3.3+, 3.4+, 4.2+, and 4.3+. The brood stock basis is formed by five- and six-year fish of 1-2-year freshwater feeding and 3-year marine feeding. The greatest diversity in the age composition is observed at the northern limit of the Asian sockeye salmon natural habitat - i.e. in the Seutakan and Achchen lake-river systems. The spawners dropped into the sea at the age of 0+ and 1+ years are more common in the populations with prevailing limnophilous forms of sockeye (rivers Khatyrka, Tumanskaya and Anadyr, Seutakan lake-river system), and the spawners dropped at the age 2+ and 3+ years - in the populations with domination of its rheophilous form (Meinypilgyn lake-river system, Orianda and Amaam lagoons). As compared with the sockeye salmon from central spawning areas of the habitat, the Chukchi sockeye has more complicated age composition of reproductive part of stocks, greater duration of marine feeding, females predominance among fast-maturing fish returning after 2 years of marine life, higher portion of males in senior age groups, and minor level of kokanee salmon and jacks. Brief description of spawning and/or feeding ponds for Chukchi sockeye salmon is presented.

Catch dynamics of semi-anadromous and freshwater fish in the internal waters of Chukotka is analyzed on the data of fisheries statistics for 2000-2013. Steady decline of catch volumes is observed since 2002. The data of anonymous polls on the problems of fisheries among local population in native villages are presented, and the data from the polls are compared with the official fisheries statistics that allows to estimate real values of catch.

Samples of pike were collected by Lab. of Ichthyology, IBPN FEB RAS in the middle stream of the Anadyr River at Markovo in June-September of 1971-2010 and processed by standard methods; in total 2410 specimens were analyzed. The pike population changed significantly during the period of observation: the fish in catches became smaller and younger, growth rate decreased, and absolute and relative fecundity increased, mainly under impact of fishery, including industrial one that intensified in 1970-1980s. As the result, the pike abundance decreased in 1980s, and the first-spawning females and males became to prevail in its catches. Further decreasing of the abundance was able to promote a reduction of competition in the population. The population could be restored only after considerable decrease of fishing pressure, or banning of the species fishery, that would improve the feeding conditions. Recent lowering of the fishing pressure due to low stock causes partial recovery of the population accompanied by heightening of elder fish portion. Now the fish spawned several times prevail in the catches. However, the growth rate and females fecundity still differ from the values typical for the 1970s. Partial recovery of the pike population should be accounted in estimations of its predatory on other fishes in the Anadyr River, including commercial species.

The data on biology of siberian cisco were collected during its spawning migration in the middle stream of the Anadyr River in September-October of 2010-2011 and during the feeding of mature fish in the Anadyr estuary in June-August of 2011. Besides, the data collected previously in 1987 and 1992 were processed with modern research techniques. The bulk of spawning lake-river cisco is the fish of the age 5+ years with the length 206-218 mm and weight 81-103 g; the feeding cisco in the estuary has mainly the age 4-6+ years, mean length 233.0 ± 4.4 mm and mean weight 119 ± 11 g. Cisco females are larger than males: the maximum size of females is 255 mm with the weight 167 g (age 7+) and the maximum size of males is 249 mm with the weight 160 g (age 7+). Modern age structure of spawning cisco is rejuvenated comparing with that in 1987 and 1992: the maximum age of cisco is now 3 years less, and the average age is 1 year less. The portions of large-sized and medium-sized mature fish became less, too, as well as the average length and weight became 36 mm and 78 g less for females, and 30 mm and 47 g less for males. Recently only 6 age groups of cisco spawn (from 3+ to 8+, mainly 5-6-years) whereas its 8 age groups spawned in the 1980s (from 4+ to 11+, with the modal age 5-8 years). The size decreasing could be partially explained by its higher abundance in recent years and relatively low summer discharge of the Anadyr in 2005-2010. Linear growth of spawning cisco has high rate in the first 5 years, reduces in the 6^th year, and decreases abruptly in the 7^th year; the growth rate of the lake-river cisco is generally lower than that of the estuarine cisco. Annual linear increments of immature cisco increase significantly in the next year after large runs of chum salmon, but not in a year of large run. The lake-river cisco is an important object of local fishery, with the main fishing grounds at Markovo where it is caught in autumn during its mass spawning migration. Annual landings of cisco are very variable, with significant decreasing in the 2000s. Modern state of the lake-river cisco population is determined mainly by hydrological regime of the river and strength of the chum salmon runs.

Discovery and research of gray whale in Chukotka are outlined and recent data on its whaling are presented on the base of authors’ and cited sources. The species was described for the first time in the late 16^th century. Almost all its studies concerned the California-Chukotka population (East Pacific gray whale), whereas annual monitoring of the Korean-Okhotsk population started in 1995 only. Aboriginal nations of North America and Chukotka traditionally hunted on this whale: about 58 thousand whales of this species were landed in the period from 1600 to 1930, including 5,000 ones in Chukotka (8.6 %). Commercial whaling was developed at California in 1846-1890s and in the USSR waters in 1933-1937. Since 1937, the commercial whaling was banned and the gray whale harvesting for aboriginal people was permitted only. Scientific research of the gray whale started by biologists of the USSR Academy of Science in 1933 and continued till nowadays by Pacific Fisheries Research Center and its Magadan and Chukotka branches. The aboriginal whaling was realized from small motor-boats and kayaks by rifles and iron harpoons in the 1930s - early 1950s, from boats by large-calibre guns in 1956-1969. In total, 4060 whales were landed in 1922-1969. In 1969-1992, the whales for aboriginal people were landed by the whale-boat «Zviozdny». The aboriginal whaling from motor-boats by rifles and tilting handle-harpoons was renewed in 1994. Recently (since 1998) the quota is 135 gray whales per year, but real mean annual harvesting is about 110 whales, so only 2197 whales were landed in 1994-2013. The usual season for the whaling lasts from middle May till late November - early December. Taking into account the modern period of whaling, about 75 thousand of the East Pacific gray whales were landed in the period since 1600 to nowadays. Annual harvesting within the statutory quota does not influence negatively on the stock of this population. Moreover, increasing of the quota is available (aboriginal people can consume up to 350 whales annually) but the aboriginal whaling needs financial and material support for extending the harvesting.

Biostatistical data are presented for 1300 gray whales belonged to the California-Chukotka population (East Pacific gray whales) and landed in the waters of Far East of Russia in 1980-2000s and for 148 gray whales belonged to the Korea-Okhotsk population (West Pacific gray whales) and landed in the early 19^th century at Korean Peninsula. In the eastern population, the portion of females changed by areas and years in the range 43-60 % (on average 13.4 % of them were pregnant), length of whales was 8.6-14.1 m, their age was 1.5-60.0 years old, with the portion of juveniles from 20 to 90 %, and fatness was very variable, without any tendency. These parameters are significantly different from those ones for the whales landed at Korea, where males prevailed and the animals were generally larger.

Demographic processes within the groups of sea otter on Commander Islands (Bering and Medny Islands) are described for the period from the beginning of its recovery on Bering Island in the late 1970s. Mortality rate is proposed as an indicator of this population condition. Stable spatial and age-sex structure of sea otter on Bering Island is observed since 1999 that is accompanied by high mortality among mature animals (8 years old and elder). Density of the sea otter distribution in the coastal waters is estimated from the data on findings of dead animals. Age-sex structure of the population varies between the sites and has seasonal variation. Strained feeding conditions for the sea otter on Bering Island are defined on the materials of underwater survey conducted by the USA researchers in 2008-2009. Three ways of development are proposed for the Commander population of sea otter.

Results of the first special research of pacific walrus Odobenus rosmarus divergens at Cape Serdtse-Kamen conducted in the 2009-2011 and 2013 are presented. The coastal haulout place looks as series of relatively isolated areas (up to 36) located alongshore about 20 km from Cape Serdtse-Kamen to the Ikalyurynveem River mouth. Initially the walruses were on the northwestern edge of the haulout place between Cape Serdtse-Kamen and Cape Sulyn but expanded southeastward with increasing of their number. In the years with early and intense ice melting, the walruses come to the area in early September, and the haulout forms to the end of the first 10-day period of this month. In conditions of late ice retreat, as in the 2013, the walruses on the whole come to Cape Serdthse-Kamen later. The maximum number of walruses in this area was observed in 2009 (about 98,000 animals) and 2010 (118,500). This is the record number of walruses ever recorded simultaneously on one coastal haulout in the species range. Almost the whole Pacific population gathers in the vicinity of Cape Serdtse-Kamen for feeding in late autumn and continues to feed there until freezing of the Chukchi Sea. In spite of obvious significance of the area at Cape Serdtse-Kamen for the pacific walrus population, there still aren’t any special measures of their protection in this part of the coast when they are ashore - the measures are definitely necessary to prevent intensive economic activities in this key for the walruses area and to save the coastal haulout for traditional use of native people.

New eco-ethological data on the Anadyr stock of beluga whales are presented based on 14-year (2000-2013) studies by methods of satellite tracking telemetry, multi-spectral aerial surveys and genetic analysis, as well as traditional and ecosystem-based approaches. Possible factors of the separate stock formation in the Anadyr Gulf are discussed, as geographic isolation, environmental conditions, foraging resources, elimination of the beluga whales, and biological isolation (on the results of genetic analysis). The beluga whales are well-adapted to oceanographic conditions and ice regime of the Arctic waters that is realized in their relationship with edge of the sea ice, ability to live in both salt and fresh waters (they enter rivers), and versatility in feeding. Their ice-associating, high sociality, and white protective coloration provide protection against killer whales and other predators and their eury-halinity allows to expand the feeding grounds both to the sea and rivers and hunt for both freshwater, anadromous and marine prey. The food spectrum of beluga whales in the Anadyr estuary is very wide and includes 12 fish species and 1 crustacean species. In the summer-autumn season, the salmons are the most significant part of the diet, as chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta , pink salmon O. gorbuscha and arctic char Salvelinus malma , whereas arctic smelt Osmerus mordax dentex , saffron cod Eleginus gracilis , sculpins Cottidae sp., anadyr whitefish Coregonus anaulorum , and siberian whitefish Coregonus sardinella are presented in the diet to a lesser extent. There is supposed on the base of episodic net surveys, that the beluga whales feeding in marine areas is more diverse, and the most important their prey in the sea are walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma , pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus , flounders Pleuronectidae sp., sculpins Cottidae sp., capelin Mallotus villosus catervarius , polar cod Boreogadus saida , halibuts Pleuronectidae sp., stingrays Bathyraja , herring Clupeidae sp., and several species of decapod crustaceans Hyppolitidae sp. and Lithodidae sp. Natural enemies of beluga whales are killer whale Orcinus orca , polar bear Ursus maritimus , and predatory form of pacific walrus Odobenus rosmarus . Rather large number of beluga whales are eliminated by the sea ice, up to 80 animals annually, that exceeds in several times the aboriginal landings in Chukotka. Parasitic fauna of the beluga whale is still unclear and requires special investigations; the cases of epizooty are unknown in the Anadyr Gulf. Philopatry is proper to the Anadyr beluga whales, with preference of the Anadyr estuary and the Anadyr Gulf as their habitats, that is explained by optimal for them environments and high food capacity. Unique adaptation of beluga whales to the environments of the Anadyr estuary is their ultrasonic vocalization in the high-turbidity waters. Genetic analysis shows a differentiated distribution of the beluga whales haplotypes in different areas of the North Pacific, so the stock of the Anadyr Gulf is significantly isolated in the post-glacial times. Low anthropogenic pressure on beluga whales in the Anadyr Gulf allows them to maintain their stock there.

Definition of individual beluga whales by the method of photo identification and selection of the main types of markers are presented for beluga whales in the Anadyr estuary, western Bering Sea. The study was conducted in the aggregation of beluga whales in three different sites at Anadyr - in the Anadyr sea port and at ferry docks № 8 and № 10 in the period from August 14 to September 6, 2013 (summer feeding of the whales). The maximum number of whales (40-70 animals) was observed at the ferry dock № 10, 2-6 whales were at the ferry dock № 8, and 1-2 ones - at the port. Mother-calf pairs were observed in all sites, but the portion of adult whales was the highest at the ferry dock № 10. Photocamera Nikon D90 and Nikkor lens (70-200 mm) were used for the photo ID. Mechanical skin damages, infections, spinal ridge traces, and age spots were used as individual markers. In total, 4400 images were obtained, including 155 ones with sides of beluga whales. The markers were observed both on the left side (32 cases) and right side (97 cases) of the whales, but both sides were identified for 13 whales only, including 3 females with calves. Taking into account the risk of reassessment in case of using two sides for identification, the identification is considered as successful for 110 individuals of beluga whale. Almost all identified individuals were met only once during the whole period of observation, only 6 of them were met twice, and only 4 - three times. One whale appeared 3 days in a row: on August 16, 17 and 18, and 5 individuals came 2 days in a row. Such few recurrent meetings may indicate a weak fidelity of beluga whales to certain water areas in the estuary, though maybe the length of study is insufficient, taking into account that a strong fidelity of mother-calf pairs of beluga whales to certain areas of the Anadyr estuary, considered as their hunting areas, was determined by visual observations of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology in the 1980s. Probably, the area at the dock № 10, where the whales form large aggregation, is not assigned to individual animals but is a common feeding area. This large aggregation is similar to the aggregation of beluga whales at Cape Beluzhy of Solovetsky Island in the White Sea. However, these aggregations are fundamentally different by their nature: the reproductive aggregation at Solovetsky Island is distinguished by various forms of social interactions, including sexual activity, while the search and hunting behavior prevail in the feeding aggregation at the ferry dock № 10. The main reason for the beluga whales concentration in this area is dense concentration of freshwater fish and salmons migrating for spawning. Reproductive aggregations of beluga whales are not known yet in the Far-Eastern Seas.

The streamer lines of 3 types are tested and compared: i) the model used in the USA Pacific waters; and ii-iii) two new models made of cheaper materials, more accessible in Russia. One new model is similar to the American one but the lateral orange 1/4” Kraton thermoplastic tubes are replaced by orange twisted polyethylene ropes with the diameter 10 mm. Another new model is similar with the former one but its 6 first longest streamers are single instead of double and 1-4 bunches of the yellow polypropylene packing tape (in 6 tapes of 1 m length) are fixed on them. The testing was realized aboard two mid-tonnage vessels for demersal longline fishery in the Far-Eastern Seas of Russia in July-October 2010 and July-August 2013. In total, 223 control longlines with 2 million hooks were set up. The seabird bycatch and frequency of the bird attacks to the bait did not differ significantly between the new models of streamers and the American model, and considerable distinctions in their running abilities were not found, as well, so the streamer lines of easy accessible and cheap materials, able for assembling directly aboard fishing vessels, could be recommended for Russian fishermen for reducing their maintenance charges. Such streamer lines are offered for application to demersal longline fishery in the Far-Eastern Seas of Russia.

Advanced technology of satellite traceology is presented on the base of using the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with high space and deep resolution installed for the first time onboard Soviet space station Almaz and now functioning successfully onboard the satellites Envisat and RADARSAT. The SAR traceology is the central issue of the satellite eco-criminology and concerns to theory of the traces formation, variability, and preservation in undamaged state. Ships coordinates, their traces and complexity of ice routing are fixed by the method of satellite charting, and their possible influence on ice-associated marine mammals is assessed. Numerous examples of SAR satellite control on navigation in stormy weather and ships’ presence in ice with different compactness, origin and age are overviewed, as well as impact of travel facilities on ice-associated animals welfare. Some incidents potentially dangerous for marine mammals are considered for the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea). Parameters of the ice cover, as openings, large fractures, and polynyas made by icebreakers in this area were determined on the base of the satellite SAR data, comprehensive digital ice maps with scheme of real ships’ routes in the ice were prepared, and the routes correspondence with ESIMO demands was assessed. The satellite SAR survey in the Kandalaksha Bay (White Sea) allowed to fix that winter navigation in the White Sea provoked formation of fractures and polynyas and reduced the sea ice area suitable for reproduction of greenland seals. For validation of this situation, airborne control was organized aboard the aircraft L-410 «Nord» that provided panoramic and IR images of ship channel through the rookeries of the seals in time of their reproduction. Besides, the aircraft made observations of pacific walruses behavior in the Bering Sea which were superposed with the satellite SAR and passive microwave survey in frame of the project «Pacific Walrus». Traceological control of the sea ice in the Anadyr Bay (Bering Sea) allowed to determine the size of openings in the ice and to assess the influence of tide and wind on welfare of ice-associated marine mammals. Some cases of infringement the regulation of navigation were revealed by means of the satellite SAR traceology.

Populations of ice-associated seals in the Okhotsk Sea are assessed using modern instrumental aerial technique. The aerial survey was conducted over a part of the ice-covered area of the Sea on May 1-9, 2013 by means of thermal scan and visual digital photography from the aircraft-laboratory An-38 «Vostok». The ice covered area of the Okhotsk Sea in the time of survey was estimated as 242,000 km², and 2,993 km² of it was covered by survey transects with total length 5,617 km. The number of animals on all transects within the equipment swath was counted. Four seal species were identified: bearded, spotted, ribbon, and ringed seals, and their number and distribution were determined. The infra-red scanner recorded 5,730 seals on the ice and 4,360 these animals were photographed including 844 ringed seals, 453 bearded, 721 spotted, 1,805 ribbon, 435 pups non-identified to the species, and 102 non-identified to species adult seals. These assessments were extrapolated over the whole ice-covered area of the Okhotsk Sea using a linear model framework, and the following estimations of the species total abundance were presented (95 % confidence intervals in brackets): 88,253 (64,120-130,320) ringed seals, 39,743 (27,868-60,026) bearded seals, 181,179 (118,392-316,995) ribbon seals, and 84,356 (55,172-113,540) spotted seals. A database on all recorded seals with their «portrait-photos» and accompanying information is created on materials of the aerial survey. The developed instrumental technology can be used as a basis for wider aerial surveys of ice-associated seals in the North Pacific.

Intraspecific structure of feeding and prespawning aggregations of chum salmon in the western Bering Sea in September-October of 2009 and 2010 and in the North-West Pacific in June-July of 2009 and 2010 is investigated on the data of trawl surveys conducted by Pacific Fish. Res. Center (TINRO) aboard RV Professor Kaganovsky in the framework of the Bering-Aleutian Salmon International Survey, second stage (BASIS-II). In total, 4246 specimens of chum salmon from mixed aggregations were subjected to biological analysis, and for 2462 of them the intraspecific status was identified on the base of scale structure (the scale baseline included the scale data for 11460 chum individuals belonged to 43 local stocks from Asia and North America). Both for the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean, domination of Russian stocks is defined, contribution of Japanese stocks is significantly lower and lowered comparing with previous years, as 2002-2004 and 2006, and contribution of North American stocks is poor and does not exceed statistical error value of the method. For the western Bering Sea the ratio by countries of the fish origin is the following: Russia 93.8-95.3 %, Japan 2.9-5.2 %, USA 1.0-1.9 % for immature chum salmon in autumn of 2009-2010; and Russia 88.8 %, Japan 9.8 %, USA 1.4 % for maturing chum salmon in autumn of 2009. For the North-West Pacific in summer of 2009-2010, the ratio is similar: Russia 75.4-88.7 %, Japan 10.1-23.9 %, USA 0.7-1.2 % for immature chum salmon; and Russia 81.0-83.0 %, Japan 15.9-17.7 %, USA 1.1-1.3 % for maturing chum salmon. Based on this ratio, the relative abundance of stock complexes by countries of origin is assessed (10⁶ ind.): Russia 107.81-123.32, Japan 3.75-5.98, USA 1.15-2.33 for immature chum salmon in the western Bering Sea in 2009 and 2010; Russia 6.34, Japan 0.70, USA 0.10 for maturing chum salmon in the western Bering Sea in 2009; Russia 19.27-37.74, Japan 6.11-4.30, USA 0.18-0.51 for immature chum salmon in the North-West Pacific in 2009 and 2010; and Russia 29.02-42.60, Japan 5.56-9.31, USA 0.38-0.68 for maturing chum salmon in the North-West Pacific in 2009 and 2010. For the immature chum salmon in the North-Western Pacific, the assessments of intraspecific composition and relative abundance of different groups should be considered as preliminary results, because of insufficient number of the scale samples.

Changes of quantitative composition and trophic structure of the nekton community in the western Bering Sea are considered for the last decades and role of pacific salmons in dynamics of trophic flows is evaluated in dependence on their abundance using the ecosystem model Ecopath. Two models are developed that describe trophic structure of the community in two cases: 1) low biomass of salmons and high biomass of walleye pollock (in 1980s, the year 1986 is analyzed as an example) and 2) decreased pollock biomass and increasing salmon biomass (in 2000s, the year 2006 as an example). Besides, a hypothetical situation is modeled with the salmon biomass multiplied by 1.5 relative to its level in 2006. Significant decrease of pollock abundance between 1980s and 2000s caused twofold reduction of total food consumption by nekton species; the heightened consumption by salmons and squids in the 2000s compensated only a small part of this reduction. However, the tenfold increase of salmons biomass changed their main diets with lowering of the prey trophic level from amphipods and squids to euphausiids, copepods, and pteropods. Now the salmons are the only numerous predator group of the fourth trophic level in the upper pelagic layer of offshore waters in the western Bering Sea. Due to their high trophic plasticity, they can feed by wide range of prey belonged to 2-3^rd trophic levels that supplies them by a large amount of food. Even in the modeled case of increasing of the salmons biomass in 1.5 times relative to the level of 2000s, the current level of forage resources is able to support their populations. There is concluded that carrying capacity of the western Bering Sea is excessively sufficient for pacific salmons in periods of their high abundance.

All indigenous nations of the Amur River basin, except the Nivkh, are originated from Tungus nomadic reindeer herders, known now as the Evenks. Their coming to the Amur coincided in time with arrival of Russian pioneers. These peoples began to live sedentary only from the beginning of the 20^th century. Fish was not the main food for them, they hunted on marine mammals accidentally and were almost not familiar with the seafood, their trade was a simple exchange of goods. At present time the aboriginal people of the Amur River have a right to catch fish without any permits, quotas, or leasing of fishing area, that does not concern to policy of fish resources managing. For optimization of the legislation, two remarks to the Russian Federation Law «On Fisheries…» would be enough: the term «subsistence fishing» should be introduced and the concept of «traditional way of life» should be defined more precisely.

Current state of the scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis settlements in Peter the Great Bay (Japan Sea) is considered on the data of diving surveys conducted by RV Ubezhdenny in the coastal zone of Primorye with the depth up to 20 m in summer and fall seasons of 2000-2012. The materials were collected from 11,000 diving stations using standard methods. Total abundance and biomass of the species is assessed by the method of Voronoy diagram (similar to the method of Tissen polygons). At present, total number of the scallop is about 4 million individuals which occupy the area 50 km². Non-commercial scallops prevail in the settlements of closed and semi-open bays, but the size groups of commercial value dominate in the settlements located in the open waters. For the whole surveyed area, the portion of scallops with the shell height < 100 mm is 29.7 %, 100-120 mm - 20.8 %, > 120 mm - 49.5 %.

Production parameters of zooplankton are calculated and analyzed on the data of plankton surveys in the framework of BASIS-1 and BASIS-2 research projects conducted in the western Bering Sea in 2002-2013. Top-ten species forming the bulk of non-predatory zooplankton production are the copepods Calanus glacialis, Eucalanus bungii, Neocalanus plumchrus, Pseudocalanus minutus, Metridia pacifica, Oithona similis, and Neocalanus cristatus and euphausiids Thysanoessa inermis, Th. raschii , and Th. longipes . The arrowworm Sagitta elegans produces the main part of predatory zooplankton production. Functional characteristics of trophic groups and production of the whole zooplankton community depend on ratio of these mass species. During the surveyed period, the non-predatory zooplankton production was the highest in the northern part of the western Bering Sea (2531-3160 mg/m³yr) and the lowest in its deep-water part (944 mg/m³yr), whereas the predatory zooplankton production was the highest in the deep-water part of the Sea and over the western shelf. The portion of zooplankton production available for grazing by fish is estimated, and the areas with possible problems for planktivorous consumers are determined: all of them are located in the deep-water part of the western Bering Sea.

The BASIS expeditions in the Bering Sea were conducted by North Pacific Anadromous Fish Comission (NPAFC) in the 2003-2006 and 2007-2012, in relatively warm and relatively cold conditions, respectively. The ice cover of the Sea changed synchronously in its western and eastern parts and indicated the warm regime since 2001 to 2006 and the cold regime since 2006 till nowadays. The regime shift changed radically the structure of zooplankton community in the eastern Bering Sea: the dominance of small-sized and medium-sized zooplankton was replaced by the dominance of large-sized zooplankton, with abundant large species of euphausiids, hyperiids, copepods, and arrowworms. This restructuring was reflected in the diet of pacific salmon: the bulk of the pink, chum and sockeye salmons diet was presented by fingerlings of pollock, sand lance, and capelin, larvae of flounders and crabs, and fry of small demersal fish in 2003-2006, but by zooplankton as euphausiids, hyperiids, and pteropods since 2007. However, there weren’t so essential changes in the western Bering Sea, both in zooplankton structure and salmons diet; the year-to-year dynamics was significant here, too, but long-term tendencies were not observed.

Effect of binary gelatin-chitosan builder on properties of fish jellies is investigated. The model jellies were prepared of the pacific grenadier Allbatrosia pectoralis with the meat distinguished by high water content. Acid-soluble chitosan with molecular weight 588 kd (made by Biopolimery) and water-soluble chitosan with molecular weight 40 kd (made by Bioprogress) were used for the structure builder in combination with gelatin. After adding the binary builder into the fish jelly, the gelatin increases its strength and the chitosan enhances its functional-technological and rheological properties; organoleptic properties of the finished product are also good: it has pleasing fishy taste and aroma. Moreover, the adding of chitosan lowers water activity. Rate of the lowering depends both on type of chitosan and on its concentration. The acid-soluble chitosan lowers the index of water activity A_w by 4.5-15.7 %, and the water-soluble chitosan - by 3.2-13.3 %. The maximal lowering of water activity is observed under the chitosan concentration (in solids) 0.08 g per100 g of jelly, for both types of chitosan. The jelly samples with this content of chitosan have the best organoleptic properties, too. The chitosan concentration increasing over 0.32 g/100 g causes an increase of the index A_w. The effect of water activity lowering is explained by forming of polyelectrolytic complex in the system jelly-chitosan-gelatin that fixes free water. The acid-soluble chitosan is more effective for water activity lowering than the water-soluble chitosan.

Milts are produced as food waste after processing of such raw fishes of high nutritional value as salmons, cod, and herring. Their using as a basement for food products is a perspective way of fish-processing technology development. Chemical and function-technology properties of chopped milt are investigated to determine their suitability for producing of food products, as sausages, pates, souses, and pastes and these properties are compared for the milts from salmon, cod, and herring. The milts are 3-26 % of the raw fish weight for these commercial species that is a significant amount of food waste. The milt tissue is slightly saturated by fats (coefficient of food saturation is 0.3 for all investigated fishes) and highly saturated by water, so the milt should be combined with other raw materials for increasing the food value. The milt lipids differ from the lipids of muscular tissue by high concentration of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids with five and six connections; the amount of these fatty acids is twice higher than the amount of saturated ones (49-52 % of total fatty acids). Moreover, the milt lipids have high coefficients of metabolism comparing with the lipids of muscular tissue, that’s why they are easy digested by human. The milts of all investigated fish species are distinguished by ability for fat emulsification. These high functional-technological properties allow to recommend the milts of salmons, cod and herring for high spectrum of food products, including emulsion ones.

Salmon milt is a valued raw material with high content of biologically active nucleoproteins, as DNA and RNA, and lipids enriched by phospholipids, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, and polyene fatty acids, therefore development of new products on the base of fish milt with high nutritional value, caloric content and good organoleptic properties is actual for fish industry. New technology for pates of the milt from salmon fishes is presented. Its key condition is an optimal ratio between protein, fat and water necessary for stability of the pate mass. There is determined that this ratio is provided by the milt : oil : water ratio as (45-55) : (15-20) : (15-20). So far as the milt has incomplete composition of proteins, some chopped muscle tissue of salmon (5-20 %) should be added to the raw material for the pates to heighten their nutritional value and to improve their organoleptic properties. Besides, 10-15 % of shrimps, scallops and squids should be added to the raw material to enhance biological value of the pates. Optimal time for the pates emulsification before thermal processing is determined as 7-9 minutes that ensures their homogeneous, tender structure. Several recipes for pates of salmon milt are proposed. Thermal treatment of the pates is recommended under the temperature 85^oC until the temperature inside the pate mass reaches 72^oC. The finished products can be stored up to 72 hours under the temperature 2-6^oC.

The virtual population analysis is used for complex tasks of bio-economic modeling of long-term dynamics for exploited population of commercial invertebrates, as blue king crab in the western Bering Sea. This method is based on the data of landings for the period exceeding the life span for the studied stock and provides guaranteed estimations of the age cohorts abundance. The assessments of the blue king crab stock dynamics are used in the economic block of the model that provides market assessment of the resource for evaluation of final cost for the manufactured goods. Two blocks of the bio-economic model allow to calculate a future income from exploitation of the resource that is necessary for planning of economical activity in fisheries industry.