Аннотация:Retrospective analysis of stock dynamics and fishing mortality was carried out by
means of Virtual Population Analysis (VPA) with tuning based on catch per unit of effort
(CPUE) data. The results indicate that the average pikeperch stock size in Lake Pskov (Pihkva) was
0.998 mln individuals, biomass – 534.6 tons; in Lake Peipsi those values were 23.9 mln
individuals and 4436.8 tons, accordingly. Maximum stock biomass in Lake Pskov (Pihkva) was
registered in the period of 1988–1990, in Lake Peipsi – in the period of 2001–2003.
Age groups from 1+ to 5+ make a main contribution to the stock biomass in both lakes.
Total stock size changes are controlled by dynamics of recruits (age 0+). Maximum
abundance of recruits was observed in 1985, 1988, 1991, and 2005 in Lake Pskov
(Pihkva) and in 1991, 2001, 2005 in Lake Peipsi. The relation between appearance of
large cohorts in two lakes turns out to be rather weak (r=0.26). This suggests that the
recruitment in different lakes may be controlled by different factors.
Fishing mortality of pikeperch has maximum values for the adult age groups (from
7+ to 9+) and has positive trend which indicates the increasing of fishery pressure to
pikeperch population.