The Tugur River flows through the Tuguro-Chumikanskiy region of Khabarovskyi krai (territory) and into the southwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk. The Tugur River basin is practically unpopulated. There are no roads except for winter snow roads, and no mining or logging activities. Most of the basin is in natural pristine condition. There are 23 species of freshwater fish in the river, including numerous populations of chum, pink salmon, lenok, grayling and Siberian taimen, plus various minnows and pike. The Tugur River basin is very promising for developing ecological tourism.

Because of the low population density of the Tugur watershed and the absence of roads and industry, the conditions for salmon populations are very favorable. The Tugur River has a considerable variety of salmonid fauna: there are eight salmonid species, one species of grayling and one species of whitefish. East Siberian char may also be found in the basin. A unique population of Siberian taimen lives here. Salmonid populations (except for coho and red salmon, which are small in number) are in excellent health and continue to run each year in high numbers. However, the most vulnerable species – taimen – have been considerably reduced in number in recent years.

The main extant hazards to the fish populations are poaching and inefficient fishing. There are no specially protected areas in the Tugur watershed. In 2001, the whole area of the basin was leased to the Kretchet Hunters Society to organize commercial and sportfishing for salmon.