**5.3 State nature reserve of federal significance "Koryakskii"**

State nature reserve of federal significance "Koryakskii" was founded in 1995 by the Decision of the government of the Russian Federation. The reserve covers a part of Goven

Marine Macrophytic Algae of the Western Sector of North Pacific (Russia) 205

In my opinion the most prespective region for sustainable use of seaweed resources is a shallow water area of Commander Islands in spite of the fact that their major part is included in the state biosphere reserve. The reasons for such statement are as follows: 1) this region is one of the most pristine in the Far Eastern seas of Russia, seaweeds growing there are suitable for food and pharmaceutical use not only by the local population but also for export; 2) analysis of the benthic communities of the Islands reveal that their state is good enough and the number of laminarian algae is actually excessive; 3) it will be expedient and even necessary to organize harvesting of commercial algae in the zones of permitted economic activity; 4) in the latest few years the scheme of initial zonation of the Reserve was

However as it was already said, competent exploitation of seaweed resourses should be based on reliable research data on the algal species composition, number and distribution within the area. This information is obviously insufficient and additional studies are

We have at our disposal only relatively old data on the stock and distribution of the laminarian algae on Commander Islands obtained during expeditions of Kamchatka Branch of the Pacific Institute of Geography in 1986, 1989-1991. In accordance with these data *Saccharina bongardiana* forms relatively small areas (20-30 hectares) covered by kelp at the depths of 1-2 meters. In sheltered bays *S. bongardiana* is met up to the depth of 12 m, forming mixed communities with other brown algae. Mean biomass of *S. bongardiana* varied in different years. The area covered by the kelp with the dominance of this species did not exceed 10 km2, total stock came to а 1-1.5 thousand tons. In exposed habitats *S. bongardiana* 

*S. dentigera* formed a distinct belt aroung the coast of Bering Island at the depths from 3 to 10 m. Some patches are met from the depth of 0 (in exposed to waves places) to 25 m. Plants often settled on coralline alga *Clathromorphum nereostratum* and obtaining big size were cast ashore by storms together with coralline crusts on haptera. The portion of *S.dentigera* in cast ashore mass reached 70%. The biomass of *S. dentigera* varied in different years in 3-4 times. The area occupied by the kelp of this species came to 200 km2, and the stock averaged to 2

At present only algae of the genera *Saccharina* and *Laminaria* are the objects of harvest in Kamchatka Region though other laminarian algae (*Alaria, Eu*a*laria*) are also suitable for food, forage and technological use. In particular a giant alga *Eualaria fistulosa* that forms dense population around Bering Island at the depths 5-15 m may be treated as a perspective commercial species. Sometimes it is met in deeper places (up to 25 m) and vice versa rises to 1-2 m in sheltered habitats. The density of populations of *E. fistulosa* varied up to 10 times from a year to year (from 0.6 to 7 kg/m2). Kelp formed by this alga occupied the area of about 100 km2. Floating plants of *E. fistulosa* and their parts formed rather thick fields with projective cover up to 60%. In autumn-winter period these floating fields of *E. fistulosa* were destroyed by storms but in April-May they appeared again and reached their maximal size (10-12 m) by June-July due to the fast growth of attached algae. The stock of this alga on Bering Island was estimated at its minimal amount in 1992 to be 82 thousand tons and at its maximal amount in 1990-1991 – up to 700 thousand tons. The total amount of *E. fistulosa* at

As is well known abundance of brown algae is subjected to unpredictable changes as a result of harvesting, so their natural fluctuations should be taken into account because harvesting in unfavourable for seaweeds years may lead to abrupt decrease in their stock.

both Bering and Medny Island in 1990-es averaged to 925 thousand tons.

reconsidered and the limits of economic zones were appreciably extended.

was replaced by a competitive species *S. dentigera.* 

necessary.

million tons.

Peninsula and adjacent water area of Lavrov Bay (Olyutorskii Gulf) (Fig. 1 (3). The protected water area totals to 83000 hectares. The purpose of creation of the "Koryakskii" Reserve was to provide protection of the whole ecosystem complex of the northern Kamchatka including marine and coastal ecosystems of Bering Sea with large colonies of sea birds.
