A total of three purse seine and several pelagic trawl vessels from countries like Japan, China, Taiwan, Vanuatu, and the Republic of Korea have been engaged in fishing for sardines and mackerel in the South Kuril zone, east of Iturup Island. The fishing activity, conducted between October 12 and October 18, saw an increase in efficiency, with the maximum daily catch reaching 850 tons and the average catch per day being 334 tons, resulting in a total catch of 38,376 tons of sardines and 104 tons of mackerel for the week. The saury catch hit 132.1 thousand tons, which is 98% of the recommended catch for open waters, with China and Taiwan having exhausted their quota and ceasing fishing. The operation also involved approximately 100 foreign vessels, predominantly under the Chinese flag, focusing on pelagic species such as sardines, mackerel, and others in the region.