Dynamics of commercial stock for the Kuril-Kamchatka population of atka mackerel is evaluated on the data on size-age structure of its catches and fishery statistics for 1968-2014. Long period of low abundance was observed until the early 1990s, with the minimum stock in 1976-1977 when the spawning biomass was about 24.5^. 10³ t and commercial one about 29.4^. 10³ t, then the biomass increased sharply in the 1995-2002, up to 545^. 10³ t, and decreased in the last decade. However, the recent stock allows to withdraw about 30-50^. 10³ t of atka mackerel annually. The modern fishery is conducted over vast areas in the Pacific waters of Kamchatka and Kuril Islands, has complicated structure and is based on different functional parts of the population, in connection with biological cycle of this species. The bulk of annual landing is provided by vessels equipped with bottom trawls (on average 86 % in 1997-2014), the rest is landed by pelagic trawls (8 %) and Danish seines (6 %). The main fishing grounds for atka mackerel are located at Kuril Islands where about 70 % of annual catch is landed, the 30 % rest is caught in the bays along the coast of East Kamchatka and on the southeastern shelf of Peninsula.

Intraspecific temporal differentiation and population structure should be accounted in fishery, artificial breeding and introduction of anadromous species to provide stability of their ecological and genetic structure and maintain their high abundance. There is shown for the case of pacific salmons that ignoring of the population structure causes decreasing of the populations and distortion of their natural structure.

Twenty-one species of water plants are found in the Avvakumovka River estuary and fourteen species - in the Olga River estuary in 3 surveys conducted in May, July, and September of 2012. Zostera marina dominates in the external estuary of both rivers in any season, whereas Potamogeton spp. and Ruppia maritima are the most abundant in some local areas of the Avvakumovka external estuary and Zostera japonica - in some local shallow areas of the Olga external estuary (where it forms perennial settlements). Chaetomorpha linum is the subdominant species in the Olga external estuary. In the Avvakumovka internal estuary, Cladophora glomerata and Z. marina are the dominants in May, Z. marina - in July, and Z. marina and Potamogeton spp. - in September, but any bottom vegetation is absent in the Olga internal estuary. From May to September of 2012, the summary biomass of water vegetation in both estuaries increased in 5 times: from 0.3 to 1.5 thousand tons.

Ontogeny of one generation of pink and chum salmons is described for the period after the juveniles redistribution from coastal waters to deep-water areas in the western Bering Sea in September-October, 2013. They fed intensively; their diet included hyperiids, pteropods and young euphausiids, i.e. the protein food with low lipid content and low caloricity. They spend only 20 % of their consumption for growth because of decreasing of the growth rate with body size increasing and significant energy expenditure for moving activity. Chemical composition of the juveniles tissues was almost the same for both species, the muscle tissue was distinguished by low fat content, without interspecies differences. So, fat accumulation doesn’t occur at this stage of ontogeny, the whole energy obtained from food is spent for moving, linear growth and metabolism.

The article discusses the role of marine mammals in marine and oceanic ecosystems on the example by Far Eastern seas with adjacent waters of the North Pacific, one of the regions of the World Ocean distinguished for high biological and fish capacity along with a high abundance of cetaceans and pinnipeds. Based on extensive data, published mostly by Russian experts, the authors calculated the following quantities of annual consumption of fish and invertebrates by marine mammals in the three Far Eastern seas: 14.6-18.2 million t in the early 20^th century, 12.3-15.1 million t in the late 1970s, 22.7-28.8 million t in the pre-harvesting period, and 24.0-24.7 million t in the early 21^st century (27.0-29.5 million t, if 3-5 million t in ocean waters off the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka are taken into account). More than a half of this quantity is composed by zooplankton and zoobenthos, and then by fish and squids. In too time scales of food consumption by fishes and large-sized invertebrates are much higher than these estimates: in the layer 0-1,000 m, 516 million t was consumed in the 1980s-1990s, 389 million t in 1991-1995, and 461 million t in 1996-2005. In the years of high abundance, large-sized walleye pollock alone consumed nearly 40 million t of small-sized fish and squid. Based on the data of 35-year-long ecosystem studies by TINRO-Center, the following biomass estimates have been obtained for the biota of the Far Eastern Economic Zone of Russia: 1,000 million t of meso- and macroplankton, 500 million t of zoobenthos, 100 million t of nekton, 5 million t of benthic fish, and 2.43 million t of large-sized benthic invertebrates, which are not included in the benthos. Against the background of these estimates and comparing the volume of food consumption by marine mammals concluded that marine mammals in the Far Eastern Russian waters noticeable in food webs, but their role does not rise to a level sufficient for the regulation of the powerful sea and ocean makroekosistem.

Results of SCUBA-diving survey are presented that is conducted in the coastal waters of Primorye at the depth < 20 m in summer and fall of 2002-2014 (in total about 12,000 diving stations in the area 2300 km²). Spatial distribution of Mercenaria stimpsoni is mapped using the geo-informational system MapInfo Professional, its total abundance and biomass is assessed by the method of Voronoy diagrams (same as Tissen polygons). The mollusk distributes widely but in dependence on environmental conditions, with preference to surfy-alluvial and surfy-erosion bays with sandy and muddy-sandy grounds, particularly to long surfy coastline. In Peter the Great Bay it forms settlements at the depth 1.5-15.0 m (maximum abundance at 4-10 m), in the area from Cape Povorotny to Cape Ostrovnoy - at the depth 2-16 m (maximum abundance at 10-16 m), and in the area from Cape Ostrovnoy to Cape Zolotoy - at the depth 2-20 m (maximum abundance at 14-20 m). Obviously, the habitat of M. stimpsoni shifts to the greater depth with wave action increasing. The total stock of M. stimpsoni in the coastal waters of Primorye is estimated as 25,000 t for the area over 100 km². The stock is distributed mainly eastward from Cape Povorotny where 85 % of its settlements (by area) and 91.5 % of total stock are located.

Description of rare shark Isistius brasiliensis caught off southern Kuril Islands on July 18, 1978. Morphometric parameters are presented, including counts of dorsal and caudal vertebras, teeth rows, mitral valves, and intestinal helical valve coils.

Morphological description for 12 specimens of skate Bathyraja bergi caught in the North-West Pacific in 1978-2013. Plastic signs and counts for teeth, vertebras, pectoral fin, and intestinal valve are presented. There are at least subspecies differences between the skates B. bergi from the Japan Sea and eastern coast of Japan.

Water circulation in the western Bering Sea is considered for summer and fall seasons on the data of oceanographic surveys conducted in 2002-2012 by Pacific Fisheries Research Center (TINRO) under BASIS program. In general, cyclonic circulation was observed over the deepwater basin, without prominent changes form summer to fall. However, the cyclonic gyre was wider until 2006 than later when it was limited by the Commander Basin in both seasons, while the northward flow from the Near Strait became stronger and the westward flow from the Aleutian Basin along Koryak shore and the Bering Slope Current became weaker. The former inflow formed the hydrodynamic front along the border of Russian EEZ that prevented eastward spreading of the cold subsurface water. This change was connected with reconstruction of atmosphere circulation: change of the Aleutian Low orientation in spring. It extended latitudinally from Asia to North America till 2006 that favored to eastern and northeastern winds over the Bering Sea, then moved to southwest-northeast position with shift to south of its western trough, so northern and northeastern winds prevailed. After reconstruction of air and water circulation, feeding migration of immature chum, sockeye and chinook salmons to the western Bering Sea became less intensive and their abundance decreased in 2, 5, and 9 times, respectively, with corresponding changes of their distribution patterns. About 70 % of immature salmons fed in the waters of the Aleutian Basin in 2002-2006 but < 50 % in 2007-2010; their concentration density in this area decreased in 2-3 times though it did not changed significantly in the Kamchatka Basin. After five years of abnormal orientation, the Aleutian Low returned to latitudinal position in 2012, just as the water circulation changed back: the northward flow from the Near Strait weakened, the eastward stream appeared along Aleutian Islands, the front at the border of Russian EEZ relaxed and the cold subsurface water penetrated to the Aleutian Basin again. As the result, the feeding salmon abundance in the EEZ of Russia grew and reached the level of 2002-2006.

Change in prey for pacific salmons in the eastern Bering Sea is considered between the periods of relatively warm (2003-2006) and relatively cold (2007-2012) conditions on the base of data obtained in the frames of BASIS research program. In the warm period, mean biomass of the large-sized, medium-sized and small-sized fractions of zooplankton was 287.9, 258.2, and 109.2 mg/m³, respectively. In these conditions, fish prey was the basis of diet for pink salmon (70-68 % of ration), chum salmon (64-84 %) and sockeye salmon (45-87 %). Pink, chum, sockeye, and coho salmons had similar diet with the dominance of juvenile walleye pollock (similarity 70-90 %), in contrast to the diet of chinook salmon (40-70 % similarity with others). In the cold period, the large-sized zooplankton was much more abundant (1094.8 mg/m³ on average) mostly due to higher abundance of Copepoda and Chaetognatha; euphausiids, hyperiids, and pteropods were more abundant, as well. In these conditions, zooplankton, mainly euphausiids Thysanoessa raschii and hyperiids Themisto libellula and T. pacifica , dominated in the diet of plankton-eating salmons: 86-92 % of the ration for pink salmon, 88-92 % for chum salmon, and 74-81 % for sockeye salmon; all these species and chinook juveniles had similar diet (70-80 % similarity). On the contrary, predatory salmons as coho and chinook adults still preyed on fish. Mean daily rations in the warm/cold periods are estimated as 12.1/9.4 % of body weight for sockeye salmon with the length 10-20 cm, 8.6/7.3 % for sockeye salmon 20-30 cm, 8.3/13.8 % for chum salmon 10-20 cm, 8.6/10.0 % for chum salmon 20-30 cm, and 8.8/10.3 % for pink salmon 10-25 cm. The prevalence of nekton or planktonic food does not affect on daily rhythm of feeding intensity: juvenile salmons feed mainly in the daytime, so they have the maximal index of stomachs fullness in the evening or early night (100-230 ‱, both in the warm and cold periods). Generally, the salmons prefer fish larvae and juveniles in conditions of low zooplankton abundance and large-sized zooplankton in conditions of its high abundance. Selectivity on euphausiids, hyperiids and pteropods is observed only in conditions of high zooplankton abundance and is an indicator of sufficient food supply.

Feeding of fish juveniles in the eastern Bering Sea is investigated for the periods of 2003-2006 considered as relatively «warm» and 2007-2012 considered as relatively «cold». Small- and medium-sized zooplankton was the dominant prey in the 2003-2006, in particular copepods prevailed in the food of walleye pollock (41.5 %), pacific herring (48.3 %), and sand lance (71.7 %) juveniles, which in turn were the prey for pollock, herring and cod yearlings and other predators. On the contrary, large-sized zooplankton was more abundant in the 2007-2012, so arrowwarms ( Sagitta sp.), large-sized copepods (in particular Calanus marshallae ), euphausiids (mainly Thysanoessa raschii ), hyperiids, and pteropods were the prey for young fish: C. marshallae - for juveniles of pollock (40-45 % by weight) and capelin (32-34 %), Th. raschii - for yearlings of pollock (51 %) and herring (36-46 %), cold-water hyperiid T. libellula - for adult pollock (24 %), juvenile cod (9-18 %) and juvenile herring (9-11 %), whereas portion of fish in the diets was insignificant. In the warm period (2003-2006), juvenile pollock, herring, sand lance and capelin were zooplankton-eaters with the diets similarity 67 %, while yearlings of pollock and juveniles of cod, herring, sandfish, and atka mackerel were fish-eaters preying upon pollock juveniles. In the cold period (2007-2012), the diets of juvenile pollock, juvenile and adult capelin, and juvenile sand lance were also similar at 85-70 % but they preferred large-sized copepods and euphausiids ( C. marshallae and Th. raschii ), while yearlings of pollock, yearlings and adults of herring, and juveniles of sand fish and cod had the diets of 70 % similarity with Th. raschii prevalence. Feeding intensity was high for all species: the mean stomach fullness was 150-200 ‱ for pollock juveniles and yearlings, 200-250 ‱ for cod juveniles, 200-258 ‱ for sand lance juveniles, 302 ‱ for herring juveniles, and 178-250 ‱ for juvenile atka mackerel. The fullness had diurnal rhythm with three peaks: at noon - up to 179 ‱, in evening - up to 213 ‱, and at night - up to 204 ‱ (the data for walleye pollock juveniles in «cold» years only). Daily food ration of juvenile pollock is estimated as 6.7 % of its body weight in the «warm» years and 7.0 % in the «cold» years.

Zooplankton and pelagic fish samples collected on the eastern Bering Sea shelf in late summer 2003-2010 were used to evaluate spatial and temporal changes in the plankton and nekton community structure. The zooplankton were sampled by vertical towing of a Juday net (168 μm mesh) and oblique towing of a Bongo net (505 μm mesh), and pelagic fish were caught by midwater rope trawl. The communities were compared across climate regimes (in relatively warm and cold years), by latitude (in the northern and southern parts of the shelf), and by water depth (in the inner, middle, and outer domains of the shelf). Zooplankton were dominated by the small copepod Oithona spp. in warm years but relatively larger copepods Pseudocalanus spp. and Acartia spp. in cold years. Notably, the large copepod Calanus spp., an important energy-rich prey for fish, were more abundant in cold years than warm years. Age-0 walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus were more abundant in warm years, while capelin Mallotus villosus were abundant within cold-year communities over the northern shelf. Latitudinal variations in communities were more prominent in the cold years, particularly in 2007 and 2010. Cross-shelf variations were evident, particularly for large zooplankton and fish, with communities corresponding to specific oceanographic domains. Outer shelf communities varied less than inner and middle shelf communities between warm and cold periods, suggesting that this region may be less impacted by climate variability. An understanding of the overlap of zooplankton (prey) and fish communities within specific shelf regions or climate regimes may provide information for ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management.

Spatial distribution and seasonal variability of the basic ecological parameters for marine water, as dissolved oxygen content, biochemical oxygen demand, and permanganate oxidizability are considered for the Eastern Bosporus Strait (Peter the Great Bay, Japan Sea) on the data obtained in autumn, spring and summer seasons of 2013-2014, with special attention to the Ajax and Paris Bights of Russky Island on the southern coast of the Strait, changed significantly after construction of new university campus and marine aquarium. Normal oxygen regime is observed over the whole strait in autumn, but cases of low dissolved oxygen content, close to the minimal permissible level, are revealed in spring and summer. This phenomenon is an important feature of environmental conditions in the Strait in the warm period. It is possibly reasoned by general pollution of marine environments by sewage water, high water temperature, and relatively high concentration of suspended matter caused by active water circulation in the narrow strait and heavy rains. However, there is no any specific anthropogenic impact on the oxygen content in the Ajax and Paris Bights.

Species structure, abundance and biomass of zooplankton, its seasonal and interannual dynamics are considered on the data of plankton surveys conducted in Peter the Great Bay in 2002-2013. All zooplankton species dwelling in the northwestern Japan Sea are presented in the fauna of Peter the Great Bay. Small-sized fraction of zooplankton prevais everywhere in the Bay (> 80 % of total number of animals). The zooplankton concentration in spring-summer (1280 mg/m³ on average) is in 1.4 times higher than in fall-winter. Both abundance and biomass of zooplankton are higher in the neritic zone in all seasons: the mean annual values are 53.17 thousand ind./m³ and 1370 mg/m³, respectively. The highest values are observed in the secondary bays, as the Amur Bay and Ussuri Bay (1455 mg/m³ on average). The Amur Bay is distinguished by high abundance of meroplankton, as well, in particular in its northern shallow area; its annual mean value is 3.65 thousand ind./m³ (twice higher than in the Ussuri Bay), the peaks are observed in summer and autumn. Abundance and biomass of zooplankton decrease gradually with the distance from the coast to the minimum values in the deep-water zone: 3.43 thousand ind./m³ and 485 mg/m³ on average, respectively. The total stock of zooplankton in Peter the Great Bay is estimated as 428^. 10³ t in spring and 636^. 10³ t in summer. Both seasonal and interannual dynamics of zooplankton abundance are more significant in the coastal areas, as the Amur and Ussuri Bays, where the changes are either similar (as in 2008, 2010-2013) or not (as in 2007, 2009). For example, low abundance of P. newmani but extremally high abundance of warm-water copepods (10 times higher than usually) and Bivalvia larvae were recorded in both bays in 2013. Fluctuations of large-sized oceanic species abundance have no essential impact on the total biomass of zooplankton in Peter the Great Bay. In general, the zooplankton abundance increased in 1.2-2.5 times during the decade, up to the maximum in 2010-2012, mainly because of Pseudocalanus newmani stock growth, but this species abundance decreased sharply in 2013 that caused 20 % reduction of the total zooplankton biomass.

Dynamics of cytomorphological characteristics of oocytes in ovaries is considered for two sturgeon hybrids: besters of the breed Burtlevskaya Huso huso (Linnaeus) x Acipenser ruthenus (Linnaeus) and the breed Aksayskaya Acipenser ruthenus x ( Huso huso x Acipenser ruthenus ) on the experimental data obtained under controlled conditions in the aquatic complex in Moscow (Russia) in 2010-2012. Methods of intravital eggs extraction, ultrasound diagnostics, biopsy with the probe, anesthesia and histological analysis are applied. Structure of membrane is similar for straight sturgeon species and hybrids, but the membrane thickness and the term of its emergence on certain maturity stage are somewhat different, so the eggs of bester could be distinguished by the oocyte membrane thickness. Mean interspawning interval for the hybrids in conditions of recirculation aquaculture system at water temperature 20-21 °C is determined as 10-12 months.

Structure of the shemaah females internal (intestine, liver, gills, ovary, heart) is subjected to histological examination in order to understand the state influence on their offspring. Some pato-morphological changes are revealed, as edema, necrosis, microvascular disorders, including hemorrhage and massive deposits of hemosiderin granules, catarrhal enteritis in the intestine, symptoms of hepatitis in the liver, cardiomyopathy of the heart, distortion of the eggs shape, proliferation of lamellar uncornified epithelial filaments and respiratory epithelium in the gills. These changes relate mostly to protective and adaptive reactions.

Effect of multiple small body damages on molting of red king crab is studied in laboratory conditions. Both male and female juveniles of red king crab with the carapace width 80-100 mm were used in the experiments. After removing of all spines from limbs and carapaces, mean duration of intermolt periods decreased significantly: the crabs without spines molted in 40-45 days earlier than intact ones. The effect of molting induction by spines removing was weaker than the induction by alternative methods but had no negative consequences as heightened mortality or limb autotomy. This procedure could be used for stimulation of molting in artificial conditions.

Retrospective data concerning effects of antibiotics used in aquaculture on disease incidence for cultivated animals and humans are analyzed. Danger of the antibiotics use is shown for those used for both therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. The antibiotics could be consumed by humans with the production of aquaculture or exuded to environments in quantities able to cause microbial imbalance or contribute to development of resistant bacteria forms. These consequences lead to significant economic losses.

Computer modeling of the rectangular-cylindrical trawl doors designed by P.P. Augulis (project 2490) is realized for calculation of their parameters to ensure stable functioning in the process of trawling. Correct choice of the warp point ensures stable functioning of the door for three ways of fastening: directly to the stringer or by means of horizontal strap or bail.

Size-weight parameters and chemical composition of starfish from the Severnaya Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Japan Sea) are investigated. Two starfish species: Evasterias echinosoma and Patiria pectinifera form dense aggregations in the bay at aquaculture plantations of Far-Eastern Technical University. Their largest size and weight are observed in spring and summer. The main part of their body weight is presented in any season by coating connective tissue that contains proteins (9.5-14.3 %), lipids (0.7-3.8 %), and mineral substance (1.3-32.0 %). The proteins include all essential amino acids (36.4-39.4 % of total amino acids weight) and the lipids include unsaturated fatty acids (20.7-22.7 % of total lipids weight). Viscera of starfish are distinguished by high content of potassium and iron and the proteins of viscera have heightened content of essential amino acids (on average 40.3 % of total amino acid weight for P. pectinifera and 44.3 % for E. echinosoma ). High biological value of the starfish tissues determines prospects of their use as raw material for industrial processing to functional foodstuffs.

Changes of physical, chemical, and organoleptic parameters during storage of cut and raw frozen bivalve Mercenaria stimpsoni are considered. Portion of its edible parts is estimated as 12-15 % of total weight, depending on age, and waste (shells and liver) takes 70-75 % of the total weight. The meat of Mercenaria stimpsoni is distinguished by low protein content (8.5-9.8 %), low fat content (0.7-1.0 %), and low caloric value (46-52 kcal) in any area and any season. The tissues of its foot and mantle have proteins with the content of essential amino acids higher than in the reference FAO/WHO protein and biologically active taurine, as well, and proteins of the muscle have lowered portion of the myofibrillary and sarcoplasmatic proteins and heightened portion of the connective tissue proteins. Mercenaria stimpsoni is capable to alive retention up to 16 days under the temperature 2-4^oC. The concentration of the proteinogenic amino acids, taurine and anserine does not change in the process of storage, but the content of myofibrillary protein decreases in 15-20 %, and the content of dilacerated proteins increases in 2.4 times. Mercenaria stimpsoni caught at Primorye coast is safe for human consumption by content of toxic elements and radioactive nuclides in its muscle tissue and viscera.

Greenland cockle Serripes groenlandicus is a burrow bivalve mollusk that forms dense aggregations on silty-sandy and muddy grounds at the depth 50-60 m. Its total stock in Peter the Great Bay is estimated as 8,700 t. The species is not used yet as a raw material for food industry that is a reason to investigate its safety, chemical composition and technological characteristics. There is noted that the aggregations of S. groenlandicus in Peter the Great Bay are formed mostly by large-sized individuals (> 80 %), so they have high commercial value. Its soft tissue (on average 25.8 % of total weigh) contents 11.9 % of protein, < 1.0 % of fat, and 5.4 % of carbohydrate, its energy value is 70 kcal, so it is a promising raw material for low-calorie dietary products. Technological losses in mass of the clam meat in the process of broth extraction under hydrothermal treatment are rather high: 45-47 %. To prevent the mass losses, the species is recommended to use as the raw material for canned products with its natural meat.

Cost efficiency of projecting, shipbuilding and exploitation of new types of fishing vessels is analyzed for several existing fishery enterprises. Running costs per a catch day are calculated for certain vessels projects and leasing terms; the leasing procedure is described; the break-even points are evaluated. There is concluded that large enterprises or corporations with high volume of production are able to conduct profitable exploitation of large-tonnage vessels.