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# 1, 1996


Viktor BUGAYEV,
the leading science cooperator of KamchatNIRO, doctor of biological sciences

Kamchatka is the land of volcanoes. Their periodic eruptions with throwing out big quantities of volcanic ash sometimes seriously effect the dynamics of Red salmon population. Correlation has been observed between volcanic ash falling over the Red salmon lakes and increase in fish return for spawning. A number of investigations carried out in Alaska proved this correlation and suggested that the effect was caused by artificial fertilization. Positive effect of ash falling on population dynamics of any other salmon species has not been proved so far. According to experts, growth of Red salmon stock in the Azabachye lake after eruption of Bezymyanny volcano in 1956 was minimum 5,9 times and maximum 10,3 times and after eruption of Tolbachik volcano in 1975 average growth was 3,5 times and maximum 4,5 times. Comparison was done to 14 generations of fish never coming to the fertilized lake.
It is early to make a conclusion on the effect of fertilization of the Azabachye lake in 1990 after eruption of the volcano Klyuchevskaya Sopka (not all generations of Red salmon have come back). But it was after this eruption that for the first time during the last 50 years Red salmon harvest in the Kamchatka river made 5.092 tons in 1995 and 6.400 tons in 1996 (average annual harvest in 1977--1994 made 2.200 tons). Increase in Red salmon harvest mainly resulted from big catch in the Azabachye lake. At present scientific information is available proving positive effect of natural fertilization on Red salmon stock in the Kurilskoye lake (area--77 square km, average depth--195,2 m), located in the basin of the Ozernaya river. In April 1981, the lake was fertilized with volcanic ash during eruption of Alaid volcano.

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