Artificial spawning grounds on the Krasnoyarsk reservoir were installed by the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station of the En+ company
28 May 15:05
Krasnoyarsk HPP company En+ continues to implement the Program for the conservation of biodiversity in the Yenisei cascade. The next stage was the installation of artificial spawning grounds in the waters of the Krasnoyarsk reservoir.
The work took place on May 26 under the control of the Yenisei territorial department of Rosrybolovstvo. The event was attended by representatives of government authorities, the scientific community, public fisheries inspectors, as well as employees of the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station.
“Artificial spawning grounds are bundles of coniferous branches secured with anchors and floats. The structures are installed at a depth of 1–3 meters in places optimal for fish breeding. They imitate natural aquatic vegetation, creating comfortable conditions for spawning pike, perch, bream, carp and other species,” the experts explained.
The effectiveness of the method has been confirmed in practice. In 2025, the placement of spawning grounds on the reservoir showed their active use by fish during the spawning period.
In 2026, the energy holding continues the project: 40 artificial spawning grounds were installed in Shumikha Bay on the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir.
The Krasnoyarsk reservoir is the third largest in the Yenisei cascade after the Main and Sayano-Shushenskoye. Its ichthyofauna includes many phytophilic fish species, the spawning success of which directly depends on the availability of a suitable substrate. The installation of artificial structures compensates for the shortage of natural spawning grounds.
This year, students from the Siberian State University of Science and Technology took an active part in the project. Academician M. F. Reshetnev. Under the guidance of employees of the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station and public fisheries inspectors, they independently made most of the spawning grounds, gaining valuable practical experience in ecosystem restoration.
The final stage of the project will be the raising of spawning grounds after the spawning season in July-August 2026.
“The installation of artificial spawning grounds is our practical contribution to the preservation of the reservoir’s ecosystem. They help maintain fish numbers by creating optimal conditions for spawning,” said Stanislav Legenza, Director of the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station. “This is far from our only environmental initiative. Every year, together with city residents and volunteers, we clean the banks of the Yenisei from garbage during the 360 campaign and improve tourist routes. We support public fisheries inspectors and, together with Rosrybolovstvo, we organize the recovery of abandoned fishing nets. This is work that is ongoing. We sincerely hope that our example will inspire others to systematically care for natural resources.”
After installation in Divnogorsk, artificial spawning grounds will also be placed in the Irkutsk, Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk reservoirs. The total area of artificial spawning grounds this year is a record one and amounts to 1,600 square meters. m.
