THE STATE OF THE FISHERY OF ATHERINA BOYERI (RISSO, 1810) IN THE AZOV-BLACK SEA BASIN
Data on the size-mass and age composition, abundance, distribution and spawning of the Black Sea Atherina boyeri pontica, as well as issues of its commercial value and use, have been analyzed. The data on the size-mass and age composition of the Black Sea atherina are given. Approaches to determining the age of atherina from otoliths are considered, the main methodological approaches to studying the age of atherina are analyzed. Aterina is an important ecosystem component, playing a significant role in food chains, being a widespread species with a high abundance, it serves as food for many valuable commercial fish species, and on the other hand, it can be considered as a promising fishing object due to its massiveness, the possibil ity of catching with special tools, and also with good quality meat with a protein content of 17.5%, fat - 4.5%, minerals - 5.5%, it is worth considering atherina as an underestimated promising fishing object.