Proposal made to create unified database, digital twin of fishing industry for Caspian Sea

Five Caspian states may create a unified database within the intergovernmental pentapartite Commission on Aquatic Bioresources of the Caspian Sea, Report informs referring to the Russian Federal Agency for Fishery (Rosrybolovstvo).

Such an initiative was voiced at the roundtable "Caspian Sea Without Borders: Science, Environmental Sustainability, and Digital Technologies for Fisheries," held at the IX Global Fishery Forum.

According to Deputy Head of Rosrybolovstvo Vasily Sokolov, one of the pressing issues remains the exchange of data between the five Caspian states and the formation of complete information about the resources and ecological state of the Caspian Sea.

"Several fresh and good ideas were expressed at the session, for example, such as creating a unified database within the intergovernmental pentapartite Commission on Aquatic Bioresources of the Caspian Sea," Vasily Sokolov noted.

He also announced the idea of cooperation with the Association of Universities and Research Centers of the Caspian States so that they become full participants in the pentapartite commission. According to Vasily Sokolov, this proposal will be considered at the commission.

Furthermore, the roundtable participants proposed creating a digital platform using artificial intelligence. It will allow for uploading monitoring data across various areas and obtaining more accurate forecasts of stock conditions, and based on these forecasts, developing joint decisions.

Scientific Director of VNIRO Mikhail Glubokovsky noted that digital technologies are already being used in the Caspian to determine the population of the Caspian seal, register amateur anglers, and control illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

According to him, it is proposed to take the next step and develop a digital "twin" for the fishing of main fish species, including sturgeon, in the Caspian Sea. Such a system will make it possible to conduct experiments and research, as well as evaluate fishing prospects.