Oceanographic conditions of spring migration of European anchovy as a factor of formation of its spawning stock in the Sea of Azov

The aim of the work is to determine the influence of sea water circulation and temperature on the formation of the spawning stock of anchovy in the Sea of Azov. Materials and methods : Fishery and biological data on the spawning stock of the Azov anchovy were collected in surveys and bioresources monitoring carried out by the Azov-Black Sea branch of the VNIRO («AzNIIRKH») in 2000–2021. Satellite sea level data were used in the analysis of sea water circulation. These data, as well as satellite information on sea surface temperature for March-June 2000–2021 for the north-eastern part of the Black Sea and the southern part of the Azov Sea were taken from the website of the Copernicus Marine Service information system. Graphical and statistical methods of analyzing multi-year changes in the data were used in the work. The novelty of the performed work lies in the study of oceanographic conditions of spring migration of anchovy to the Sea of Azov as factors determining the size of its spawning stock in this sea. Result : intensive growth of the spawning stock of anchovy in the Sea of Azov was observed in 2008, 2010 and 2011. This was facilitated by: predominance of north-western geostrophic currents in the north-eastern part of the Black Sea in April 2008–2011, weakening of the Azov currents in the Kerch Strait in April 2007–2010 and predominance of the Black Sea currents in May 2004–2012, Decrease in the meridional gradient of water temperature in the Kerch Strait in April 2007–2010. Practical significance : the possibility of using oceanographic information for April-May to predict the size of the spawning and commercial stock of anchovy in the Sea of Azov.