Age and length-weight structure of sockeye salmon spawners are considered for the feeding-spawning lakes of southeastern Kamchatka, as Dalneye (1976-2013), Blizhneye (1939-2013), and Listvenichnoye (1999-2013), and for Lake Sarannoye on Bering Island (1990-2013). By these data, the age of sockeye salmon maturing is: 2.2, 2.3 and 3.2 in Lake Dalneye, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2 in Lake Blizheye, 2.2, 2.3 and 3.3 in Lake Listvenichnoye, and 2.2, 2.3, 3.2 and 3.3 in Lake Sarannoye. These age groups dominate in the samples of spawning sockeye with the portion 70-90 %. Long-term dynamics of length and weight of sockeye spawners is distinguished by negative trends significant for the longest time-series in Lake Blizhneye and insignificant for the shorter one in Lakes Dalneye; the length of observations in Lakes Listvenichnoye and Sarannoye is not enough to reveal trends. Besides, cyclic variations with the period 5-10 years could be revealed for the long tome-series. As a rule, each cycle includes the phases of gradual decreasing and sharp increasing of length and weight. Year-to-year dynamics of the length-weight structure in the common period of observations is similar for all investigated lakes.

Species composition and abundance of nekton and their interannual variation are considered for the upper epipelagic layer (0-50 m) in the Aleutian and Commander deep-water basins of the western Bering Sea on the data of surveys conducted by Pacific Fish. Res. Center (TINRO) in September-October of 2002-2013. Dominant species were similar for both areas: the most abundant ones were chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta and boreopacific gonate squid Boreoteuthis borealis . Simpson index of domination was higher in the Aleutian Basin and these indices in two areas changed synchronously until 2009 but later they became closer and changed asynchronously. Either chum salmon or the squid dominated usually with some years as exclusion. South-boreal and subtropical species were more abundant in the Commander Basin, in particular in 2006, 2008 and 2012. Year-to-year dynamics of certain species were statistically similar, but its nature was unclear. The total biomass of nekton decreased after the climate regime shift in 2006-2007 from 3241 to 1736 kg/km² (in 46 %) in the Aleutian Basin and from 2459 to 1976 kg/km² (in 20 %) in the Commander Basin.

Deep-water red snow crab is researched in poorly or never surveyed areas of its habitat in the central part of the Japan Sea, as Kita-Yamato Bank and Peter the Great Seamount on the data obtained aboard RV Vladimir Safonov in April-May 2012. The densest aggregations of red snow crab males and females are found at depth 800-1040 m. Total biomass of commercial males of this species is estimated as 7,400 t, including 14 t in the 1.5 km² area of the top of Peter the Great Seamount where the red snow crab is observed in the first time. The crabs of this mountain are distinguished by small size: on average males - 83.0 mm, females - 58.6 mm (comparing with 99.9 mm males and 65.0 mm females on Kita-Yamato Bank). The results for Kita-Yamato Bank are compared with previous researches of fishing vessels Seisho-maru 68 (September-October 1992), Viera (May-June 2005) and Arctic Orion (April-May 2007) and decreasing of the red show crab stock is detected, in 1/3 for two decades.

Seasonal dynamics of gonad maturity and body condition indices (liver weight, hepato-somatic index, weight-size ratio) is analyzed for walleye pollock in the northern Okhotsk Sea. Its spawning season is rather long both for the whole population and any spawning ground, e.g. at West Kamchatka the fish with melting gonads is observed from December to September and probably later, but the mass spawning continues about one month - in March-April, on average. After the spawning, a new annual biological cycle begins from the period of gonad recuperation (stages of gonad maturity VI and VI-II) that continues 2-3 months followed by the period of gonad maturation from the stage III to the next spawning. The portion of the pollock females and males with the stage III is the highest in August-September, and with the stage IV - in March, before the mass spawning. In the northern Okhotsk Sea, the dynamics of maturing is similar, with the lag of 2-3 weeks. However, the gonad maturing depends on thermal conditions: they develop faster in «warm» years than in «cold» ones. Besides, big fish begin to spawn earlier than small ones spawning in the first time. Males usually stay on the spawning grounds longer than females. Body condition of walleye pollock is influenced by the process of gonad maturation. Energy potential of its individuals forms until August-September, and begins to decrease when gonads transform from the stage III to the stage IV. Later the indices of body condition continue to decrease till spawning in March-April, and melting individuals and postspawners have the lowest values. After the spawning, the indices begin to grow again because of active feeding.

Distribution of migratory fry of pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha in the stream of the Voznesenka River (south-eastern Sakhalin) is investigated and its high inhomogeneity is revealed. One of the reasons is the stream structure - the fry aggregate mainly in the main flow. Another reason could be the fry behavior - they instinctively try to form aggregations with visual contact, in particular in relatively light nights or in conditions of their high abundance (short distance between the individuals).

Northern rock sole is abundant and important for fishery species in the Pacific waters of Kamchatka and northern Kuril Islands. Sometimes its oogenesis occurs with the oocytes atresia. By the data of the females reproductive tissue investigation conducted in 2011-2012, the degeneration appears for the late perinucleus (II and II-III maturing stages), vitellogene cells (III and IV stages), and ovarian follicles (stages VI-III) and develops by three principally different ways. Comparing with other fish species, atresia of the late perinucleus of northern rock sole realizes without follicular epithelium and affects either 15 % of these cells (for 8 % of juveniles) or 67 % of these cells (for 4 % of non-spawning adults). In the process of the vitellogene oocytes atresia, a symplast forms between follicular epithelium and chorion and conserves until final resorption of the oocyte. The cortical alveoli and vacuolated cells are damaged more often (5.6 %) than the oocytes with advanced yolk (2.4 %). Resorption of ovarian follicles by stroma connective tissue of oviparous plates is typical for all postspawning females, their portion doesn’t exceed 3 % of cells in each generation. Obviously, atresia of vitellogene oocytes reduces the fish fecundity, therefore the total and population fecundity is forming until the stage IV.

Spatial distribution of algae vegetation is considered for the area from the Uda Bay to the Ushki Bay (1100 km along the northwestern coast of the Okhotsk Sea) on the data of 10 surveys conducted by Pacific Fish. Res. Center (TINRO) at the depth from 2 to 12-35 m in 2002-2013 (3043 stations, including about 300 diving stations made by the author personally). Dominant species of sublittoral vegetation are few: 4 species of brown algae ( Saccharina gurjanovae, Alaria marginata, Pseudolessonia laminarioides , and Stephanocystis crassipes ) and a group of red algae ( Neoptilota asplenioides, Odonthalia corymbifera, Tichocarpus crinitus, Chondrus platynus, Neohypophyllum middendorffii , and Hymenena ruthenica ), other species can form the vegetation cover in local areas only. The algae belt reaches the depth 8-13 m, sometimes 26-35 m. Its vegetation is qualitatively homogeneous, with feebly marked vertical zoning and tier structure; the dominant species don’t change by latitude and topical conditions. Mean biomass of the sublittoral algae is about 2 kg/m², with the greatest contribution of Saccharina gurjanovae (annual mean 41 %) and the minimal one of Pseudolessonia laminarioides (13 %). The species composition is relatively stable in time, as well. The features of vegetation homogeneity are shown in over 900 km of the coastal zone. However, the sublittoral vegetation changes significantly southwestward and northeastward from the investigated area.

The most common regularities in spatial distribution of mass Euphausia species and their size classes and ontogenetic stages are determined for the Okhotsk Sea using the data averaging by biostatistical areas and applying the average results to the centers of the areas that allows to smooth small-scale patterns as patchiness. Thysanoessa raschii and Th. inermis occupy mostly shelf areas and Th. longipes and Euphausia pacifica - deep-water areas; among them Th. raschii and Th. longipes are more abundant and Th. inermis and E. pacifica are supposedly allochtonous species which penetrate to the Okhotsk Sea through the Kuril Straits, so they are distributed mainly in the southern part of the Sea. Mean biomass and abundance of all species in the upper (0-50 m) and deeper (50-200 m) layers are calculated for each stage and size class in the daytime and nighttime, separately: most of them, including both adults and furcilias, concentrate mainly in the deeper layer and their night biomass is higher in both layers though about a half of animals raise to the sea surface at night. Only eggs, nauplii and calyptopes of euphausiids don’t change their abundance considerably between day and night, and most of them occupy the upper layer round the clock. Obviously, the increasing of late furcilias and adults in the deeper layer at night is caused by their diurnal migration from the layers below 200 m. Seasons of the highest abundance for early stages come in natural order that is a sign of their short duration.

The Okhotsk and Bering Seas and the subarctic zone of the North Pacific are surveyed well by the expeditions conducted by Pacific Fish. Res. Center (TINRO) in the last three decades (115 surveys in 1984-2013), with sampling of zooplankton for monitoring of feeding resources of commercial species. Mean total zooplankton biomass and biomasses of size fractions of zooplankton, its taxonomic groups and mass species are calculated, by biostatistical areas. General patterns of the biomass distribution between the biostatistical areas are determined and presented as the charts of the biomass averaged by the areas. The most abundant species of zooplankton with similar systematic and trophic status are spatially separated that allows them to reduce competition for food, for example the pairs of small-sized, medium-sized and large-sized Copepoda species ( Pseudocalanus minutus - Oithona similis, Metridia pacifica - M. okhotensis , Calanus glacialis - Neocalanus plumchrus ), the pair of Hyperiida species ( Themisto pacifica - T. libellula ) and four Euphausia species ( Thysanoessa raschii - Th. inermis - Th. longipes - Euphausia pacifica ) in the Okhotsk Sea. Detailed tables on biomass and stock of the main components of zooplankton are presented, by regions and biostatistical areas.

Hydrological and hydrochemical surveys were conducted in the Voevoda Bay in May, August, and October, 2011 and February, 2012, in total 140 stations. Free water exchange of the bay with the Amur Bay is observed, with exception of its inner bights Kruglaya and Melkovodnaya. The water exchange is maintained by anticyclonic circulation with the inflow along the southern coast and outflow along the northern coast of the Voyevoda Bay. However, the opposite cyclonic circulation is observed in the Melkovodanaya Bight because of its coastal line patterns and fresh water discharge by the river. Dissolved oxygen content and partial pressure of CO₂ in the bay waters are determined mostly by intensive processes of production and destruction of organic matter. There are three main groups of primary producers there, as diatom algae, sea grass Zostera marina , and periphyton. Specific chemical regime is formed in the Melkovodnaya Bight, in particular in winter when primary production depends on the ice cover and is driven by variations of photosynthetically active radiation passed through the ice. Seasonal variability of production-destruction processes intensity is discussed on the data of chemical parameters changes.

Pollution with heavy metals, as iron, manganese, zinc, copper, lead, nickel, and cadmium is considered for the coastal waters in two bights of Peter the Great Bay on the data of the metals content in tissues of the algae Sargassum miyabei and Saccharina japonica . The Fe and Mn indicate terrigenous runoff, the Zn and Cu - anthropogenic impact, and the Pb, Ni, and Cd are the tracers of industrial pollution. The content of Fe is the highest among heavy metals; its maximum concentrations are found in the top of the Kozmin Bay and at Cape Petrovsky in the Wrangel Bay. The Pb and Cd contents are higher at the small boats berthing in the Kozmin Bay. The Ni content is the highest (up to 4 mg/g) on reefs in front of the oil terminal in the Wrangel Bay and in the top of the Kozmin Bay that is possibly reasoned by shipping activity because Ni is included in all oils. The Zn concentration is the highest at the pier in the Wrangel Bay constructed of stone blocks. The contents of heavy metals in algae from these bights are compared with similar data from the Avachinsky Bay (Kamchatka), Nha-Trang Bay (Vietnam) and port Santos (Brazil); relatively high pollution of the Kozmin and Wrangel Bays by Pb is revealed. Pollution in these bights has mostly industrial and anthropogenic nature. The pollution with Ni and Cd decreased between 1995 and 2008, but became higher again in 2012-2013, the pollution with Mn, Zn and Fe also increased in 2012-2013.

Distribution of mass antarctic, subantarctic, antarctic-subantarctic and tropical-subtropical interzonal pelagic ostracods is considered depending on structure and dynamics of waters in the Australian-New Zealand sector of the South Ocean on the base of authors’ and cited data. The species are separated latitudelly and vertically, that probably diminishes competition between them. Biogeographic boundaries of the subantarctic and antarctic zones determined by the ostracods distribution patterns are close to the South Polar and Subpolar Fronts.

Toxicological tests of salmons on acute and chronic critical concentrations of 15 chemical elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Co, Ni, Mn, Sb, Al, Fe, Mo, V, Se, S, As, B) are executed and compared with cited data, with special attention to mechanisms of the toxins physiological effects on fish, including their synergistic and antagonistic influence. These elements are the most common pollutants of spawning rivers in Kamchatka. For better comparability, the standard test object is used, as rainbow trout. Regional amendments to the normative standards of anthropogenic discharges are proposed.

Sign of production-destruction balance is determined for different parts of two rivers estuaries in Peter the Great Bay (Razdolnaya/Suifen and Sukhodol) on the data of chemical samplings in different seasons of 2010-2013. For this purpose, the nutrients concentration dependence on ratio of river and sea waters mixing is determined. In the case of conservative behavior of nutrients, their concentration should have negative linear dependence on increasing salinity, but its non-linearity shows removal or addition of the nutrients by processes of biological production or destruction: negative deviations indicate production and positive deviations indicate destruction. The concentration of mineral nitrogen is close to zero everywhere in the estuaries in spring, so below the line of conservative behavior that is the evidence of active nitrogen consumption. Patterns of silicon and phosphorus distribution are similar to the distribution of nitrogen. Summer nutrients concentrations are mainly below the conservative values, as well, with exception of the areas at the river bar, so production prevails in the external estuaries of both rivers, but remineralization prevails in the lower parts of the internal estuaries in this season. In autumn, destruction of organic matter becomes more important in both estuaries, so heightened values of nutrients are observed in all their parts, in particular in the «silicon belt» of brackish water (≈ 13-17 eps). The silicon concentration increasing at the river bar (above the concentration in the river water) is the most significant in the Razdolnaya estuary which is generally poor by this nutrient. There is concluded that terrigenous nutrients of the river water are utilized for new production mostly in the external estuaries, whereas the process of organic matter mineralization dominates in the internal estuaries. Besides of the production-destruction processes, changes of the mineral silicon concentration are determined by transformation of its inorganic forms, as dissociation of low-soluble silicates to silicon acid under heightened pH. Principal difference of the production-destruction balance between the internal and external parts of estuary could be an ecological basis for formation of different ecosystems in these zones, with principally different structure and functioning patterns.

Seasonal variability of vertical salinity distribution in the Japan Sea is considered. On the base of high accuracy data from the databases WODC-2013 (USA), JODC (Japan), and the databases of Far-Eastern State Hydrometeorological Institute and Pacific Oceanological Institute (Russia), several cases of salinity minimums are analyzed and interpreted taking into account seasonal variability of salinity profiles. High vertical homogeneity by salinity is noted for the Japan Sea waters, and the subsurface salinity minimum can be considered as a result of continuous changes of freshwater balance. It could be formed in the layers from the sea surface to 150-250 m as a temporary local extreme caused by prevalence of evaporation over precipitation on the sea surface in some seasons - that’s why it is observed seasonally. There is concluded that such conservative patterns as water masses are absent in the sea, at least in its active upper layers, but vertical salinity profiles are changing permanently under influence of changing freshwater fluxes, and their extremes appear or disappear in compliance with the dialectic laws.

Results of macrozoobenthos surveys (in total 86 stations, 432 sediment samples) in the area of marine pipeline route at Piltun-Astokhskoye oil field in July of 2007-2010 are presented. The sediment samples were collected by van Veen sampler (1-3 samples per site from the area 0.05 m², 0.11 m², or 0.25 m²) at the depth 0-45 m. The samples were washed by sea water through the sieve with mesh 1 mm, and the residues including macrobenthos were preserved by 4 % buffered formaldehyde for later processing with total identification of macrozoobenthos (species composition, abundance and biomass) in the laboratories of Far-Eastern Research Hydrometeorological Institute and Institute of Marine Biology in Vladivostok, following to standard techniques. The data were analysed using the PRIMER software including multidimensional cluster analysis of samples by hierarchical agglomerative method of group-average linking based on Bray-Curtis similarity of the macrozoobenthos species composition by biomass. In total, 272 species of macrozoobenthos are identified at the surveyed area, with the highest species number for amphipods (86 species) and polychaetes (72 species). Mean total abundance of macrozoobenthos is 26556.4 ± 2660.9 ind/m², its mean total biomass is 669.7 ± 40.3 g/m². Cumaceans and amphipod crustaceans are the most numerous groups; sea-urchins, bivalves and cumaceans have the highest biomass. Five benthic communities are defined by cluster analysis. There is concluded that the bottom sediments and depth are the main factors determining the characteristics and distribution patterns of benthic assemblages at present time.

Atmospheric processes over the Far East of Russia and the North-West Pacific are investigated for understanding the reasons of the rainfall over the Amur basin in the summer of 2013, extreme by its duration and intensity, that has caused catastrophic flood in the middle and lower flow of the Amur River. On the base of detailed analysis of the air circulation, the reasons of such rainy weather are analyzed, and recommendations for its prediction are proposed. The circulation is described quantitatively by several parameters, as average atmospheric pressure at the sea level, geopotential height, air temperature, indices of integrated air transfer over certain areas, and indices of cyclonic activity over the Amur basin and tropical zone. Prevailing pressure systems are revealed, which are responsible for formation of precipitation fields over the Amur basin. In particular, the long and intense rains over the Amur basin in May-August of 2013 were caused by cyclones propagating along the stable atmospheric frontal zone located in this area. They were blocked by the baric ridge over the Okhotsk Sea, so the deep and stable atmosphere depression (Far-Eastern Low) was formed over the middle and lower flow of the Amur in July-August of 2013 with the negative pressure anomaly > 1.7σ (standard deviation), where the cyclones deepened below than usually (on average in 5 hPa below). This depression was maintained by intensive meridional air transfer in the troposphere over East Asia that transported heat and moisture from the tropical zone. This transfer was reasoned by huge reserves of moisture, latent and sensible heat over southeastern Asia that was formed by abnormally strong equatorial trade-winds and unusually frequent tropical cyclones, mostly going by eastern trajectories because of strong western spur of the Hawaiian High that blocked their ways. All these patterns were presumably conditioned by strengthening of the Hawaiian High. As the result of these large-scale circumstances, the air mass with tropical properties was moved to temperate latitudes, and cyclones converted them to heavy rains just following to their usual paths across the Amur basin.

The following biological problems of the pacific salmons cultivation in Kamchatka are considered on the base of long-term monitoring data (2001-2013): 1) dynamics of cultivated salmons abundance in the water bodies of salmon hatcheries; 2) salmon otolith marking; 3) biological state of salmon juveniles and adults; 4) epizooty in hatcheries; 5) assessment of hatcheries effectiveness and prospects of salmon cultivation in Kamchatka. Four pacific salmon species are cultivated in Kamchatka: chum salmon (~ 60-70 %), sockeye salmon (~ 25-30 %), chinook salmon (~ 2-3 %), and coho salmon (~ 2-3 %). Their total annual release from Kamchatka hatcheries is estimated as approximately 36 million juveniles on average for the period 2001-2013. Mean contribution of chinook, sockeye and coho salmons cultivated in Kamchatka to the total release of these species from all Far-Eastern hatcheries is 100 %, 95 % and 35 %, respectively, but the contribution of chum salmon does not exceed 3-5 % of its total release. Total annual return of the salmons to Kamchatka hatcheries is about 38,000 on average, so the coefficients of return are usually < 1 % that means rather poor effectiveness of the hatcheries. The highest coefficient of return (2.1 %) is reached in Malkinsky hatchery that uses local geo-thermal water for rearing of salmon juveniles. To enhance the returns, illegal fishing (poaching) should be limited as much as possible and technologies of rearing have to be enhanced. Besides, the process of otoliths marking for cultivated juveniles in hatcheries has to be strictly controlled by technical standards for better evaluation of their contribution to commercial stocks. Promising ways of salmon fishery industry development in Kamchatka are ranching, supporting of wild salmon reproduction, and regulation of traditional fishery. All these measures should minimize effects of hatchery cultivation on structure of the stocks of pacific salmons. Health surveillance for hatchery-reared juveniles has to prevent and/or reduce their mortality in case of infectious, parasitical, alimentary and others diseases.

Data on chemical composition, biological value and safety are presented for muscle tissue and internal organs of walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma caught in Peter the Great Bay (Japan Sea). The meat of рollock in any biological state has high protein content (15.5-16.8 %), low fat content (0.5-0.6 %), and low energy value (66-72 kcal./kg). The viscera of feeding pollock have in 25.0 % higher content of fat and in 3.5 % lower content of protein in compare with the spawning fish. Proteins in the pollock meat have more essential amino acids than a reference FAO/WHO protein and contain biologically active taurine and anserine, as well; the content of proteinogenic amino acids, taurine and anserine does not change in the process of storage. Lipids of the pollock viscera contain 37 % of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and 67.0 % of them are DHA (22:5) and EPA (20:50); content of these fatty acids in the lipids of pollock meat is even higher: 50 % and 86 %, respectively. The pollock caught at the coast of Primorye is safe by content of toxic elements and pesticides in its muscle tissue and internal organs.

Modern methods of state regulation of business activity in fishery of Republic of Korea are investigated, its efficiency is evaluated. The South Korean approaches to regulation of small business are compared with this practice in Russia. Korean creative approach to the state regulation of small business allows to use more effectively the limited resources and to increase their value added by means of the coastal regions involvement to the domestic and international tourist industry.