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We reveal the secrets of how to cook omul. Baikal omul: types, description, where it lives

Omul fish is a Siberian representative of the family salmon fish. Fishing for omul is very popular, because in addition to tasty catch, the fisherman gets a lot of pleasure from the exciting process of fishing. Industrial fishing of this fish is prohibited, but sport fishing enthusiasts can catch omul almost all year round, except for the spawning period. During spawning, fishing for omul is strictly prohibited.

Attention! There is now a complete ban on omul fishing! Fishing information is presented on our website solely for information about how fishing was carried out before the ban was introduced. Read more about the ban here: http://www.interfax.ru/russia/581302

Description

The body of this fish is elongated and narrow, covered with small, tightly fitting scales. The main color of the fish is silvery-greenish. But at the same time:

  • the back is darker;
  • the sides are silvery, have a beautiful emerald or brownish tint;
  • belly light;
  • the lateral line can be clearly expressed, but often it is faintly visible;
  • The fins of the fish are light, almost gray.

It also has a purely salmon-like detail - an adipose fin on the back closer to the tail. The head of the fish is large, with an almost straight mouth located below it. The eyes are large, silver-gray.

The average life expectancy is 15-18 years. It can grow up to 50 cm. The weight sometimes reaches 1.5 kg, but more often the fish grows only up to 700 grams.

Habitats

Ichthyologists classify the omul as the only representative of this species. But people usually divide it into several subspecies:

  • Arctic omul;
  • Baikal;
  • Penzhinsky;
  • Malomorsky and so on.

The main ones are Arctic and Baikal. Due to the difference in place of residence, and, accordingly, nutrition, representatives of the same species may differ in appearance and also have different taste qualities. Although, again, these are the same fish.

The population of this species on Lake Baikal is not evenly distributed. In south-eastern Baikal it is abundant, but in the north-west it is not found. More specifically, fishing for omul promises to be successful at the places where the following rivers flow into Baikal:

  • Chivyrkui;
  • Barguzin;
  • Selenga;
  • Upper Angara.

This is explained by the fact that these rivers carry a lot of food for the fish, which is where they live.

It is worth mentioning the Small Sea - this is also a promising place for omul fishing on Lake Baikal, here it is also found in abundance. As a result, here it was called Malomorsky. It is curious that among Siberians this subspecies is most valued, although its size is less than the average species indicator.

What does it eat?

Prefers small crustaceans - epishur. If the number of these crustaceans reaches 30-35 thousand per cubic meter of water, the fish does not look for other food. But if there are not enough crustaceans, omuls eat various zooplankton, small invertebrates, as well as young fish of other fish.

Spawning

At the end of August - at the beginning of September, the Arctic omul, like its Baikal counterpart, goes into the rivers of Siberia in large flocks to spawn. The fish spawns from the end of September to the beginning of October, when the water temperature drops to 4˚C. Prefers places with a hard sandy or pebble bottom with a depth of no more than 2 m. At this time it does not feed.

During the spawning period there is a ban on any fishing. This is due to the fact that fish go to spawning grounds in large schools and it is very easy to catch them at this time.

Since the number of omul is already in lately has decreased significantly, it is very important not to ignore this norm and refrain from fishing during the ban.

Catching

Let's look at how omul is caught on Lake Baikal. You can catch it both in summer and winter. Many people prefer to catch omul from the shore in summer, because during this season it is found in relatively shallow water. The tackle for shore fishing is a float rod. The bait can be very different:

  • earthworms or dungworms;
  • flies;
  • plant attachments;
  • foam rubber in shades of red and much more.

Fishing for omul from a boat is especially good. Night fishing can be productive for many species of fish. These include omul. You need to catch it at a depth of at least 25 meters, while illuminating the bottom with a headlight. Night fishing for omul is very entertaining. The headlight is needed so that crustaceans will swim into its light, followed by the omul. Thanks to the amazing purity of the water in Lake Baikal, everything happens literally in plain sight.

If you plan to go fishing at night, it is better to take a “donka” with you. It needs to be placed in a lit area. Flies work well as bait.

In summer, the most traditional gear for catching omul on Lake Baikal is a spinning rod. Here, anglers mainly select flies. In appearance they resemble omul crustaceans, flies are different colors, so you can always choose one that works for today. In addition, the flies themselves are small - this is also important, including on Lake Baikal.

The tackle here must be special, with a weight. As a weight, it is better to use a “ballerina” - a piece of wire with a loop. Its weight for Baikal should be about 15-20 grams, depending on the depth. All this is collected in two ways:

  1. Weight in front of the leash;
  2. There is a weight at the end of the fishing line, and in front of it there are several leashes with flies.

The first method is good when fishing occurs on an uneven bottom with deep holes. The second is for a flat bottom. In the first case, there is usually only one leash and front sight, the length of the leash is 1.5 - 2 m. If the weight is tied at the end, then several leashes of 2-5 cm are alternately tied in front of it, at a distance of 7-12 cm.

In winter they catch omul “at a glance”. This is when a fisherman, lying on his stomach on the ice, looks into a hole, and in it you can see fish passing at depth. The beauty of “Sneak Fishing” is that it allows the fisherman to assess the presence of omul in the area of ​​the hole and how it reacts to the bait.

In winter, feeding is needed. You're the most popular one here. The same flies act as bait.

Flies for catching omul

Let's talk about flies in more detail. It is customary to tie omul flies on a hook without a barb. Hooks are usually made from stiff wire or sewing machine needles. Although recently, anglers have simply modified ordinary hooks by squeezing the barb with pliers.

To make flies, they usually use:

  • multi-colored beads;
  • wool;
  • feathers;
  • threads;
  • wire;
  • varnished cloth;
  • wire insulation and other non-ferrous materials.

Such a variety of materials is not a whim, but a necessity, because omul in different times takes different flies, but ignores natural, more universal baits such as drill. All this abundance of materials and colors is designed to imitate the various crustaceans and other plankton that the omul feeds on.

The family of whitefish (lat. Coregonus) has more than 40 valuable commercial species with excellent taste qualities. Almost all of them are anadromous or semi-anadromous and are able to quickly adapt to sudden changes in water salinity. One of the universal representatives is the omul fish, the length of which often exceeds 60 cm and weighs 5 kg. Many amateurs and professionals want to complete the list of trophies with the legendary representative of the whitefish, but you need to know exactly what omul looks like, where this fish is found, what it eats and what its habits are.

On a larger scale biological systematics omul belongs to the salmon family (lat. Salmonidae), but at the same time it has delicate, light-colored meat without the slightest bitterness. In addition, like any whitefish (ludoga, vendace, pyzhyan, tugun, peled), it has a small symmetrical head and medium-sized silvery scales without scattered dark spots.

To other features appearance omul include:

  • elongated body of regular spindle-shaped shape;
  • strongly compressed sides;
  • presence of an adipose fin on the tail;
  • small mouth with jaws of equal length;
  • light thickened abdomen;
  • the central axis of the body passing through the pupil;
  • brown, brown or greenish color of the back.

The color of individual populations can vary depending on the diet of the habitat and taxonomic group.

Many fishermen are interested in the question of how whitefish differs from omul. There is no definite answer here due to the extreme polymorphism of the species (different external forms). Unlike the omul, in some reservoirs the whitefish has a characteristic expansion in the first third of the body, a hump, a cartilaginous elongated snout, large size(up to 12 kg).


Arctic omul

Basic subspecies (lat. Coregonus autumnalis ), which gave the fish population its name. Characterized by maximum dimensions for the species and a passing way of life. Regularly goes out to feed in the coastal zones of the Northern Arctic Ocean. It easily tolerates water salinity of 20-22% with an average of 35% in the World Ocean.


If most of us are asked where omul lives, the answer will probably be this: in Siberia, in Lake Baikal. And you will undoubtedly be right. It was Lake Baikal, famous throughout the world for its depth and amazing purity of water, that gave us the most delicious fish called the Baikal omul. However, perhaps it will be news to you that Baikal is not the only habitat for omul.

In addition to the Baikal omul, there are other varieties of this fish, which, accordingly, live in other places. Actually, on this basis they are divided into subgroups, although, in essence, they are the same fish. Arctic omul (or Yakut) lives in the Arctic Ocean, and Penzhina generally prefers small lakes associated with the Penzhina River. These subspecies of omul differ in taste because they feed differently.

And yet, let’s return to Baikal omul, as the most popular variety of Siberian delicacy. Lake Baikal is far from small, so even within it it is unevenly distributed. Scientists have been studying the distribution of omul throughout Lake Baikal for many years and have come to some conclusions. If the southeastern part of the lake abounds in this fish, then in the northwest there is none at all. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon. Apparently Baikal omul prefers to stick to those places where large rivers flow into the lake, because with their flow a lot of silt gets into the waters of Baikal. And in the mud are the smallest crustaceans and insect larvae are the omul’s favorite delicacy. So he prefers to stay close to food. In addition, in this part of the lake the bottom is exactly what fish like - flat and quite shallow. In the upper layers of water heated by the sun there is large number small living creatures, which are also eaten by fish. The Baikal omul does not like great depths too much, as you probably already understood. Only during winter does he descend into deep places, and even then it regularly rises to the surface to feed, to the delight of the fishermen. However, at great depths he also has something to profit from.

In contrast to the southeastern part of Baikal, the northwestern one looks completely different. There are no rivers there, and the bottom drops sharply down immediately to greater depth. Apparently the fish don't like it too much, so it's not surprising that they don't appear there.

Although, by and large, all these theories remain just theories. It is not yet possible to say exactly why the Baikal subspecies of omul prefers the southeastern part of Baikal. All that remains is to make assumptions.

If we talk about the habitats of the Baikal omul more specifically, it prefers the confluence of the Barguzin, Selenga, Chivyrkui and Upper Angara rivers. Apparently, they are the ones who carry with them greatest number stern.

It is especially worth mentioning that part of Baikal, which is called the Small Sea. Here Baikal omul also found in abundance. It was even classified as a separate subspecies or population – the Malomorsky omul. By the way, it is most valued among Siberians, despite its relatively small size. But why the Small Sea attracts omul is still unclear.

The Baikal omul, as well as its other subspecies, has one important feature. Once every few years, the fish migrates upstream the rivers, near the mouth of which it feeds. Of course, the purpose of this migration is spawning. Having started their journey at the end of summer, the fish swim hundreds of kilometers, moving towards their goal. At this time, they are very easy to catch, but fishing for any kind of fish, including omul, is strictly prohibited during spawning. This is done in order to protect the fish from extinction.

After spawning, which occurs in late autumn, the fish returns back to recuperate.

The Arctic subspecies of omul behaves almost the same as its Baikal counterpart. He also prefers to stay close to the confluence large rivers. The point here is not only the crustaceans that the fish feed on, but also the fact that near the mouths the water in the ocean is not so salty. Pechora, Yenisei, Kolyma, Lena and many others Siberian rivers shelter the Arctic brother of the Baikal omul near their mouths, and during spawning the fish rise up their currents. The behavior of the Penzhinsky omul during spawning is the same, only they serve as a spawning site small rivers(primarily Penzhina), flowing into small lakes where this fish is found.

By the way, if we talk about Baikal omul and Arctic, today it is believed that their ancestors initially lived in the ocean, and only then moved along the rivers to Lake Baikal. Considering the ability of this fish to move, this scenario is quite likely.

So, Baikal is not the only place where the miracle fish omul lives. It lives in other bodies of water, both smaller ones and such huge ones as the Arctic Ocean. However, even the Arctic subspecies of this fish is found exclusively in the coastal zone of Siberia, so that with a clear conscience it can be called a Siberian delicacy.

Many cuisines around the world offer a taste of Arctic omul dishes. This is a real delicacy with unique taste characteristics. But to see with your own eyes what the Arctic omul is like, so to speak, in its natural environment, few are lucky.

Scientific approach: species classification

First of all, let's give scientific classification. Omul is an anadromous fish that belongs to the class and is included in the order Salmonidae. The family that the omul belongs to is called Salmonidae, and the genus is called Whitefish.

The fish prefers a bottom lifestyle and is omnivorous. Its habitat covers the Arctic Ocean basin and Siberian rivers.

What does “migratory fish” mean?

The term "migratory fish" applies to those species whose life cycle takes place partly in the sea and sometimes in rivers that flow into that sea. As for the species in question, omul spawns in rivers and feeds in the coastal zone of the Arctic Ocean. This type of migratory fish is called anadromous. If a fish goes out to sea from the river to spawn, it is called catadromous.

Appearance

(photo posted in the article) has an almost regular, elongated body shape. This means that the middle axis passes through the torso and the middle of the head. The mouth of the fish is terminal and small in size. The upper and lower jaws have equal length. Medium size eyes.

The sides are a beautiful silver color and the back has a brownish-green tint. Sometimes a thin black stripe is visible on the sides. On the belly the color is much lighter. The Arctic omul is covered with small, dense scales. The fins and tail, as well as the sides, are silver in color. There is a noticeable fatty leathery patch on the back unpaired fin, located behind the dorsal. It consists of adipose tissue without fin rays. During the spawning period, males develop epithelial growths, which makes it possible to visually distinguish between males and females.

Dimensions

Omul, the photo of which allows you to determine the size of the individual, is a fish that can hardly be called large. The average representative weighs about 800 g. Occasionally, fishermen come across larger individuals, whose weight can reach 2 kg. The body length of large specimens of the Arctic omul is approximately 50-60 cm. The lifespan of this species is from 10 to 18 years.

Varieties

When describing what Arctic omul is like, they usually mean two types:

  1. Coregonus autumnalis.
  2. Coregonus autumnalis migratorius.

The second species is called the one that lives in freshwater Baikal. From the lake where the omul lives, it comes out into the rivers to spawn. This happens in the autumn period, from September to November.

The Baikal omul is somewhat larger, its average weight reaches more than 1 kg. The largest fish caught by fishermen weighed 7 kg. The average length of the omul is 60-70 cm. A number of hypotheses have been voiced about how this species could have leaked from the ocean into Baikal. Traditionally, this fish was identified as a subspecies of Arctic omul (Coregonus autumnalis migratorius), but later the results of genetic tests identified it as an independent species - Coregonus migratorius.

Scientific hypotheses

Since the final bold point in the definition of the Baikal omul has not yet been put, it would not be superfluous to describe how scientists are trying to explain its appearance in freshwater lake. The most probable are 2 hypotheses:

  1. Omul on Baikal is a local form, that is, it is an endemic fish, the ancestors of which lived in the waters of Baikal millions of years ago. This hypothesis is supported not only by scientific facts, but also folklore sources (legends, traditions, songs). And in contrast to the hypothesis, the opinion is put forward that endemics cannot be found in other parts of the planet, and salmon, similar to the Baikal omul, live in many places. In addition, the Arctic omul has very few differences from the Baikal one.
  2. The Baikal omul swam into the lake during the interglacial period from the Arctic Ocean along the Lena River. In defense of this hypothesis, facts of similarity between the two species are cited.

However, if you consider genetic research, then the Baikal omul is somewhat closer to whitefish. This requires putting forward new theories about the origin of the species.

Ban on fishing for omul in Lake Baikal

Today it is under threat. There is less and less of it. This led to the question being raised about a complete ban on fishing for this species for 3 years, starting in 2017. Such a measure will help preserve the species and restore it as natural resource. Poachers who illegally catch tons of fish every year will be more strictly prosecuted.

Buyers will not suffer in this case, since in markets and store shelves it can be replaced with Arctic omul caught in the ocean (although these species differ in taste).

It is worth noting that similar measures were already taken in 1969, when the number of Baikal omul fell catastrophically. The ban was in effect until 1979, after which it was concluded that the numbers had recovered.

What do omuls eat?

The places where omul is found are cool, rich in oxygen, with clean water. The species lives in schools, feeding on large crustaceans, gobies, and young fish. The fish is considered an omnivore. If no more large production, then they easily switch to plankton. During the feeding period, the species feeds very intensively in order to restore vitality. For this purpose it selects coastal, shallow bay areas. The water here is not too salty, rather brackish.

The Baikal omul feeds on zooplankton, amphipods (a type of crustacean), and young animals of other species.

Reproduction

In the Arctic omul, sexual maturity occurs at 4-8 years. By this time, its body is at least 35 cm. To spawn, the species rises into rivers, sometimes traveling more than 1,000 km. During the spawning transition, the fish does not eat, as a result of which it loses a lot of weight. Females spawn all the eggs in one go. The omul caviar is of a bottom type. It is not sticky and is quite large relative to the size of the fish. The eggs are from 1.5 to 2.5 mm in diameter. The laid eggs do not stay at the spawning site; they roll down to the lower reaches of the rivers. Observations on the river Pechora showed that the spawning stock included individuals from 4 to 13 years old. During her life, the female spawns 2-3 times. Having spawned, the fish rolls downstream into the sea.

Puberty of the Baikal omul occurs at the age of 5 years. By this time, its length is at least 28 cm. The spawning stock contains individuals from 4 to 9 years old. The Baikal omul enters rivers to breed in two schools. The first occurs in early autumn (September), the second at a temperature of 4° C (October-November). For spawning, an area with rocky and pebbly soil is selected and fast current. After spawning, the omul goes downstream to Baikal.

Economic importance

Omul is considered valuable commercial fish. But its catch is limited. The priority right to catch Arctic omul, for example in Chukotka, is enjoyed by indigenous people. The volume of permissible catch is determined by the regional Commission for the Regulation of Harvesting of Anadromous Fish Species.

One of the brands of Lake Baikal and Buryatia, a delicacy for tourists and a favorite snack local population– Baikal omul. The humble relative of the inhabitant northern rivers Siberia and Canada of the Arctic omul, this endemic fish in Lake Baikal today is rapidly reducing its numbers. This article is about where the Baikal omul lives, what features of its biology threaten its existence, and also about the chances of this fish to remain a rare delicacy at a feast.

White fish from the salmon family

Baikal omul (Coregonus migratorius) and Arctic omul (Coregonus autumnalis) are two species of the same genus bony fish, which belong to the salmon family (Salmonidae). These fish differ significantly from other representatives of this family.

When describing the Baikal omul its appearance, the following features are highlighted:

  • The axis of the body passes through the pupil of the eye. The body is proportionally symmetrical.
  • Small head and fusiform body correct form. The sides are compressed, the abdomen is thickened. There is an adipose fin on the tail.
  • Medium-sized scales of silvery color without pronounced spots. The back is brown, brownish or greenish, and the belly is light.

Omuli are dioecious fish, without pronounced sexual dimorphism. Fish become sexually mature when they reach 5 years of age, their size reaches 27-28 centimeters.

According to evidence, at the end of the last century in Baikal there were omuls up to 60 centimeters long, and most of the individuals in the nets were from 35 to 40 centimeters. In the modern catch, most individuals range in size from 11 to 28 centimeters. “Golomyanny” omuls, that is, large ones, are extremely rare today. And yet they rarely measure more than 40 centimeters.


Endemic to Lake Baikal

This is a semi-anadromous fish; only during the breeding season does it leave its usual feeding grounds. The main habitat is the very limited waters of Lake Baikal and the rivers flowing into it, where the omul goes only during the spawning period. The size of Lake Baikal and the heterogeneity of biogeocenoses in its various parts have led to a wide variety of morphoforms, which differ slightly in color and physiological characteristics(number of rakers on gills, time of puberty).

Based on their habitat in the lake, there are 4 types of Baikal omul:

  • Severobaikalsky view. The habitat is limited to the northern shore of the lake.
  • The Ambassador species lives in the Small Sea of ​​the lake and is considered the most delicious.
  • Selenga species. Habitat in the delta of the Selenga River.
  • The Chivirkuy species lives in the eastern part of the lake.

Food base of omul

The uneven distribution of omul in Baikal is primarily due to food base, the basis of which is zooplankton. And it is in river deltas, where a lot of phytoplankton accumulates, on which planktonic small animals feed, that a densification of the population density of this salmon species is observed.

The main diet of the Baikal omul is planktonic copepods, amphipods, eggs of other fish, and fry of other whitefish, perciformes and gobies. The omul stops feeding only during the breeding season, at the end of August – beginning of September. During the spawning period, these fish, like their relatives pink salmon and chum salmon, do not feed. But, unlike them, after spawning the omul does not die, but rolls off to feeding areas to continue life cycle.


Spawning period

Sexually mature Baikal omuls form large schools and begin to move to the deltas and upstream of the Selenga, Angara, Kichera, Barguzin and other rivers. The local omul does not rise above a thousand kilometers; it goes to spawning carefully and does not approach the banks of rivers. The omul spawns in places with running water and a pebble-sandy bottom, where the depth does not exceed 2 meters.

Spawning of omul in autumn (September-October) is associated with the length of the incubation period (up to 220 days) and the temperature of larval development (+4 degrees). One female lays up to 65 thousand eggs, which are not attached to the bottom, but are carried away by the current to secluded places. Further development spawning occurs at temperatures from 0.5 to 1.5 degrees above zero.

At the end of April, the fry begin to appear. They are small - 10-12 mm, weigh up to 7 grams. With the flow of water and its warming up to 12 degrees, they are carried to the main feeding area, and they feed on small planktonic organisms.

Lack of care for the offspring and a large number of eggs contribute to the preservation of the species, and the narrow temperature limits of its maturation make the evolutionary factors of natural selection more severe. Complexities of the life cycle of migratory fish, demanding temperature conditions and the mineral composition of water - this is what expresses the relativity of the Baikal omul’s adaptability to the living conditions as an endemic species of Lake Baikal.


Fishing object

Since ancient times, the Baikal omul has been an object of catch. It was always caught by everyone: residents of surrounding settlements for themselves, private owners for sale, fish factories on an industrial scale. Tourists brought from here not refrigerator magnets, but salted and smoked omul.

The Baikal population of these animals is already for a long time is in a state of permanent depression. Since 1969, industrial fishing for omul on Lake Baikal has been prohibited due to a sharp decline in numbers. Environmental measures contributed to the restoration of the population of this fish, and in 1979 the ban was lifted. IN recent years official quotas for catching this fish were about 1,100 thousand tons per year.

But the situation repeated itself in 2017: in October, a ban on catching omul on Lake Baikal was reintroduced. Of course, in addition to individual fishing with a fishing rod. In addition, a program to artificially restore numbers came into effect. In 2018, it is planned to release 300 million fry of this fish into Baikal, which should ensure the reproduction of the Baikal omul in its natural environment habitat.


Environmental and other threats

Over the past 20-30 years, the population of this fish in the lake has been “buried” more than once. And there are several reasons for this.

Official catch and quotas are one side of the coin. And the second is poaching. According to some reports, the poaching catch of omul exceeds the official one. And since 2018, amendments have been in force in the Baikal fishing basin, which have greatly tightened sanctions in the fight against poachers.

According to ecologists, the number of this fish in Lake Baikal is not last role Waste from the Baikal pulp and paper mill and the construction of the Angarsk cascade of hydroelectric power stations played a role. Active development industrial activities in this area cannot but have an impact on the ecology and general species composition flora and fauna of the region.

In addition, there is an opinion that the undermining of the omul population in last decades provoked by the method of catching it - using a fine-mesh seine. At the same time, a huge number of juvenile fish got stuck in the cells, and the reproductive part of the population decreased sharply. And poachers simply throw cheap nylon nets at the slightest threat, and they become floating killers in the waters of Lake Baikal.


Let's sum it up

Time will tell whether the measures taken by the government will lead to the restoration of the number of endemics of Baikal and the pride of Siberia, the Baikal omul. According to experts, the first results of environmental activities in relation to this species can be judged in at least 8 years.

In the meantime, when going to Baikal, remember that in accordance with Part 1, Article 175 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (purchase or sale of property knowingly obtained by criminal means), a simple purchase of several omuls on a spontaneous market can not only lead to infection with botulism, but also to a fine of 40 thousand rubles or even imprisonment (that’s how many kilograms of fish they find in your trunk).