The results of assessing the sources and degree of anthropogenic pollution of the Avacha Bay (southeastern Kamchatka) are presented. The main sources of anthropogenic pollution of the bay and surrounding areas are towns and villages located on its shores, as well as its tributaries — the Avacha and Paratunka rivers. The Bay is permanently polluted with petroleum products, phenols, detergents, salts of heavy metals, and radioactive substances. The coastal waters of the Kamchatka Peninsula contain the most significant reserves of brown algae, mainly represented by the kelp order, including Fucus distichus subsp. evanescens and Eualaria fistulosa. In the Avacha Bay, micropopulations of some species of algae underwent changes, so the brown algae Eualaria fistulosa is currently found only in the estuary of the Avacha Bay. According to the latest data, E. fistulosa is found in the Bay in very small amounts, and in storm emissions it is recorded in the form of separate individual parts. The complex of indicators proves that the most contaminated hypertoxic sections of the coast include the shoreline starting from the Nikolskaya hill, coasts of Rakovaya, Mokhovaya, Seroglazka, and Petropavlovskiy Kovsh bays, where the entire fucoid belt was almost destroyed. The authors highlight the importance of regular environmental monitoring of the Avacha Bay. Much attention is given to urgency of technological reconstruction of sewage and sewage treatment plants, as well as the lifting of sunken ships and other large metal garbage.
INFLUENCE OF ANTHROPOGENIC POLLUTION ON MACROPHYTE ALGAE OF AVACHA BAY (SOUTHEASTERN KAMCHATKA)