Nikolai Mikhailovich Knipovich (also Knipowitsch) (6 April [O.S. 25 March] 1862 – 23 February 1939) was a Russian and Soviet ichthyologist, marine zoologist and oceanographer, notable as the founder of fisheries research in the Russian North.
Knipovich organised and led the Scientific Murman Expedition from a location on the Barents SeaMurman Coast between 1898 and 1901,[1] which marked the beginning of systematic study of the region's biological resources.[2] A special modern marine research vessel, the steamship Saint Andrew, was built for the expedition and in May 1900 Knipovich led an expedition to undertake hydrographic and biological observations along Kola shores from the Murman Coast to 73°00'N. He then, in Autumn 1901, drew a chart of currents based on the data gathered on water temperature and salinity and identified several warm streams. In 1902 he was the first to draw a conclusion on a relationship between distribution and migration of commercial fish in the Barents Sea and warm currents.[3] From the Saint Andrew and another vessel, Pomor, hydrographic observations were carried out at over 1,500 stations and biological studies at about 2,000.[4]
His other expeditions included some to the Caspian Sea (1886, 1904, 1912–1913, 1914–1915, 1931–32), the Baltic Sea (1902) and the Black Sea (1922–1927).[5] His request to carry out a scientific and fisheries related expedition to the Azov Sea and secure the ship "Besstrashny" was approved by Lenin personally.[6]
Knipovich was extensively involved in international collaboration. In 1901 he attended the Second Conference of the International Council for the Exploration of the SeainChristiania (Oslo, Norway) and was voted one of the vice-presidents of the Council.[7] Between 1926 and 1927 he was a major proponent of German-Soviet cooperation in the studies of the Barents Sea and was heavily involved in the Polar Commission of the USSR Academy of Sciences.[8]
Vessels named after him – sailing boat "Nikolay Knipovich", onboard of which regular oceanographic observations were carried out between 1928 and 1941 on the "Kola Section",[3] and R/V "Akademik Knipovich", a Russian research vessel, which collected materials between 1965 and 1967.[2][12]
The Knipovich Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography (PINRO) was named after him in 1935.
Knipovich, N.M. (1902). Expedition for Research and Fisheries Investigations at the Murman Coast (1898-1990). p. 605.
Knipovich, N.M. (1906). Principles of Hydrology in the European Arctic Ocean. St. Petersburg: Tip. M.M. Stasyulevich. p. 1518.
Knipovich, N.M. (1914–15). Hydrological Explorations in the Caspian Sea. Petrograd.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Knipovich, N.M. (1923). Identification guide of the fishes of the Black and Azov Seas (Opredelitel Ryb Chernogo i Azovskogo morei). Moscow. p. 144.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
"Hydrological investigations in the Black Sea". Sci. Work of the Azov-Black-Sea Scientific Producers Expedition (10). Moscow: 272. 1939.
^Ludecke, Cornelia; Lajus, Julia (2010). "6. The Second International Polar Year 1932-1933". In Barr, Susan Barr; Ludecke, Cornelia (eds.). The History of the International Polar Years (IPYs). Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 150–51/319. ISBN978-3642124013.
