In Krasnoyarsk, taimen and nelma fry were released into the Yenisei River.

In Krasnoyarsk, taimen and nelma juveniles were released into the Yenisei River. In recent years, Krasnoyarsk and the entire Yenisei basin have regularly held artificial reproduction programs for valuable fish species. While the most high-profile news concerns the millions of Siberian sturgeon juveniles released in 2025 by Norilsk-Taimyr Energy Company, a Norilsk Nickel subsidiary, the release of nelma and taimen juveniles also plays a key role in these programs. Such programs help slow the decline of rare predator populations and offer hope for their gradual restoration in the great Siberian river.

Taimen: Siberia's River Tiger and Its Last Refuge

The taimen is a true symbol of Russia's freshwater might. The largest member of the salmon family in Siberian rivers, it reaches lengths of 1.5–2 meters and weighs 50–80 kg, with some individuals living up to 50–60 years and growing even larger. It reaches sexual maturity late, at 6–10 years of age, and spawns in the spring in fast-flowing, pebble riffles with clear, cold water. Unfortunately, due to intensive poaching, destruction of spawning grounds, and industrial impacts, the taimen population in most accessible areas of the Yenisei River and its tributaries has sharply declined. The species is listed in regional Red Data Books, and in some areas, fishing is completely prohibited.

One of the few places where truly large, healthy, and genetically pure populations of wild taimen remain is the Putorana Plateau. This unique basalt plateau, with thousands of lakes, deep canyons, powerful waterfalls, and crystal-clear rivers, creates ideal conditions for the species: an abundance of forage fish (grayling, whitefish, lenok), minimal anthropogenic pressure, and a virtually complete absence of poaching. The Putorana Plateau rivers—the Severnaya, Nimde, Yerachimo, Anadyakan, Musima, Tutonchana, and Sukhaya Tunguska—remain the last reliable refuge of trophy taimen nationwide. Therefore, protecting these areas and supporting natural reproduction here are crucial for the entire species.

Nelma: a migratory predator with huge transitions

The nelma is another outstanding predator of the salmon family, a close relative of whitefish. It grows to 10–20 kg, with record-breaking specimens exceeding 30 kg. The nelma is a semi-anadromous and anadromous fish: it undertakes extensive migrations along the Yenisei River, ascending high upstream along tributaries to spawn and migrating downstream to feed. Its meat is highly prized for its fat content and flavor, so the nelma remains an important commercial and sport fish. However, the species' numbers are declining due to overfishing during migration periods, deteriorating spawning conditions, and pollution in the middle and lower reaches of the river.

How is the release of juvenile fish proceeding in Krasnoyarsk and the Yenisei River?

The Yenisei Territorial Administration of the Federal Agency for Fisheries coordinates the stocking process together with the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Glavrybvod" (including its Yenisei branch). The young fish are raised at specialized hatcheries, such as the Norilsk Fish Hatchery. The eggs are collected from wild spawners in the lower reaches of the Yenisei River and in Taimyr, incubated, and then kept for several months or a year until they are able to adapt to the river.

Nelma releases occur more frequently: annually, thousands or tens of thousands are sent to the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir, near Dudinka, Igarka, or downstream. Juvenile taimen are released less frequently—the species is more difficult to breed and requires special conditions—but such releases are part of compensation programs and regional environmental initiatives. For example, coastal stabilization projects (including Tatyshev Island in Krasnoyarsk) plan to simultaneously release tens of thousands of taimen, nelma, sturgeon, grayling, and whitefish fry.

The survival rate of hatchery-reared juveniles in the wild is low—usually 5–15%. Therefore, significant volumes must be produced, while work is simultaneously underway to protect natural spawning grounds, combat poaching, and conduct scientific monitoring.

Long-term plans and the role of the Putorana Plateau

Major companies like Norilsk Nickel are implementing multi-year programs under global agreements: by 2050, they plan to release hundreds of millions of juveniles of valuable species, including nelma (and, eventually, taimen). The government, science, and business are joining forces to restore the Yenisei River to its former fishing potential.

The Putorana Plateau plays a special role—its rivers remain a benchmark for the natural reproduction of taimen and nelma. Preserving these remote areas, where conditions are close to pristine, is critical for the species' gene pool.

Hope for the future of the great river

The release of taimen and nelma fry in Krasnoyarsk is not just an environmental initiative, but an investment in the long-term future. Every small predator that enters the Yenisei River represents a chance that in 10–20 years, the river will once again be filled with trophy specimens. And the Putorana Plateau will continue to be a place where nature preserves its majesty and where people learn to care for it responsibly. Conserving these species is a shared responsibility, one that will determine whether the Yenisei remains the legendary Siberian river we are rightfully proud of.