Rosneft backed the first phase of a major scientific study examining valuable fish species in the Yenisei River. The Taimyr Peninsula expedition assembled leading researchers from the Lomonosov Moscow State University Centre for Marine Research, the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Rosneft's Arctic Research Centre. The research forms part of the Сompany's Tamura environmental programme.

The Tamura programme, launched in 2024, aims to update information on the status of key animal species in the Far North. Scientists are studying the Kara subpopulation of polar bears, wild reindeer and valuable species of birds and fish in western Taymyr. The programme will run until 2027.

The initial research phase focused on ichthyofauna and included assessments of key fish populations and the ecological conditions within their habitats.  Scientists surveyed more than 600 kilometres of the Yenisei estuary, covering major tributaries including the Bolshaya Kheta, Pelyatka, Dudinka, Tanalau, and Muksunikha.

The team conducted biological analysis aboard the research vessel's laboratory, examining muksun, Siberian whitefish, Arctic cisco, and vendace. Researchers recorded weight and size measurements whilst studying feeding behaviour.  Research locations were selected following a review of ichthyological and hydrobiological studies published over the past 90 years.

Laboratory analysis of the samples will provide data on age distribution across fish populations in the Yenisei estuary, alongside further insights into feeding patterns. The scientists will also conduct chemical analysis of water and sediment samples collected from fish habitats.

The second stage of the research is planned for 2026. The scientists will focus on assessing the status of fish populations in the region during different periods of their life cycles, including feeding and spawning. The research will also include biological analysis of the most common and valuable fish species in the Yenisei, such as muksun, broad whitefish, and nelma.

Rosneft pays special attention to biodiversity conservation, implementing the most extensive Arctic research programme since Soviet times. Over the past 13 years, more than 60 expeditions have been carried out to study the hydrometeorological, geological and biological features of the region. This has resulted in a unique collection of information on the climate, nature and wildlife of the Arctic. It has been the source of a unique body of information on Arctic climate, nature and wildlife.

Department of Information and Advertising
Rosneft
October 13, 2025

Keywords: Environmental news 2025