Russia Deploys Drones for Scientific Oversight of the Salmon Run

Russian researchers are deploying unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence to monitor the spawning grounds of Pacific salmon. The initiative enhances forecasting accuracy and supports management of one of the world’s most economically and ecologically significant fisheries.

Experts from the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) use drones to survey remote and difficult‑to‑access river and lake areas in the Far East, such as Lake Azabachye in Kamchatka. Video and photographic data collected during flights form the basis for assessing populations of pink salmon, chum, and sockeye. These materials also support real‑time fishery regulation and scientific forecasting.

Protecting Biodiversity

A key innovation of the project is the digital transformation of data analysis. The institute is implementing artificial intelligence algorithms to automatically count fish on spawning grounds. This dramatically accelerates data processing and eliminates human error, allowing scientists to focus on more complex research tasks.

The project holds strategic significance not only for Russia — which remains a global leader in Pacific salmon harvesting — but also for the broader ecosystem. Accurate data ensures a sustainable balance between effective fishing practices and biodiversity preservation. Industry‑driven scientific recommendations directly influence harvest outcomes: in the most recent season, Russian fishers caught 335.5 thousand tons.

This advanced approach is setting a new benchmark for sustainable resource management and ecological monitoring.