Dynamics of catches and state stocks of European perch Perca fluviatilis in the Novosibirsk reservoir

The European perch (Perca fluviatilis) is a widespread species across Eurasia. In Western Siberia, it inhabits a variety of water bodies, including large and small rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The European perch is abundant in most of them. Perch has always been a commercial target, and currently accounts for approximately 20% of commercial catches in the south of the region. In the Novosibirsk Reservoir, perch catches reached 17.7 tons in the early years of its existence, accounting for up to 44% of the reservoir’s total catch (in 1959). After that, catches of this species declined dramatically; from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s, perch rarely appeared in fishery statistics. In recent years, the species’ abundance has been increasing, as has its stock biomass, recommended catch rates, and actual catches. Since 2020, perch harvest volumes in the Novosibirsk Reservoir have averaged 19.5 tons, accounting for approximately 3% of the reservoir’s total fishery production. However, despite the increased catches, the species’ stocks are underexploited. The fishery management strategy for the Novosibirsk Reservoir perch fishery should be aimed at maximizing the average annual catch. Perch from the Novosibirsk Reservoir are larger in size than similar-aged specimens from rivers and lakes in southern Western Siberia. Furthermore, compared to the reservoir’s initial existence, the species’ size has increased, possibly due to the reservoir’s improved food supply.