" Дальневосточный морской природный заповедник"

Far Eastern Marine Reserve

Objects of protection: animals and plants

The Far Eastern Marine Reserve is located in the Peter the Great Bay, part of the Sea of Japan.

The total area of the protected area is 64,316.3 hectares, including 63,000 kilometers of marine area. Around the water boundaries of the reserve there is a marine protection zone, which is equal to three miles.

A marine reserve appeared on March 24, 1978. Its main task is to conduct research, study and preserve the local coastal flora and fauna.

Now this protected area is the only one in the world, where more than 95% of the entire territory is occupied by the water surface.

The UNESCO program added the Far Eastern Natural Area to the list of international biosphere reserves in 2003.

This reserve boasts the presence of unique marine representatives of the fauna, which are extremely rare in nature.

More than 1,400 species of animals and plants live on the territory of the protected area, of which more than 200 species of algae, 200 species of fish, more than 300 species of mollusks, more than 150 species of sea worms, 390 species of birds, about 100 species of crustaceans, 39 species of mammals and about 50 species of echinoderms.

There are sea urchins, Kamchatka crabs, scallops and starfish.

Bottom and bottom species are common here: hedgehog, flying fish, tuna, moonfish, large coryphons, anchovies, half-wings, yellowtails. The most unique are the hairy-headed sea dogs and the shark katran .

There are few mammals here, the most common species are vole mice, shrews, rats, foxes and columns, and a raccoon dog can also be found.

Whale whales are also present: dolphins, minke whales, northern swimmers, saves. Of particular interest is the largha seal, which breeds and lives only on the territory of the Far Eastern Reserve Area.

Birds are also not deprived of attention - there are both nesting species, as well as migratory guests. Most often there are waterfowl - seagulls, ducks, geese, sea cormorants, murres. Gray herons that nest in the bay area are the rarest birds.

The flora here is heterogeneous and amazing, because many plants that were previously unsuitable for marine conditions, were able to live in this area.

The highest points of the conservation area are covered with deciduous forests, there are oaks, ash, linden, cherry, hornbeam, fir, lilac bushes. Due to climatic conditions and lack of moisture, all trees have a small height, looking more like overgrown shrubs.

However, despite the large number of trees, the most popular representatives of the flora are algae. On the seabed there are both kelp, costaria, and dichloria. Some of the species are rare and are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

Protection of the protected area is a very important topic. Indeed, without proper control, many representatives of flora and fauna will die, and the number of poachers will increase several times. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening now in the territory of the Far Eastern Marine Reserve. The main problem here is the lack of funding, so the security system has significant difficulties.