Japan Increases Fish and Seafood Imports from Russia 

Japan is increasing fish and seafood imports from Russia, despite Western sanctions. According to official data, the volume of supplies grew by about 10% in 2024 with a significant increase in exports of crab, and surimi and pollock fillets. 

Annual imports of Russian fish and seafood in Japan are between 120,000-140,000 tonnes. In value terms, these figures are equivalent to about $800-850 million, with the potential for further growth.  

Traditionally, the biggest demand in Japan is observed for Russian crab, snow crab, opilio and the iconic...

Russia: Fish Exports Could Exceed $6 Billion in 2025

According to Agroexport — the organization responsible for agricultural exports from Russia — fish exports in the country could exceed $6 billion in 2025, a $1.2 billion increase from last year.

Experts with the center predict the main supply destinations to be China, South Korea, the EU, Japan and Belarus. Agroexport also reported that in the first four months of 2025, Russia exported $1.9 billion in fish products — a 22% jump from the same period last year.

Frozen fish accounted for 47% of exports, totaling...

Russia Remains Major Salmon Producer in North Pacific Region

According to experts from the Russian Federal Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, one of Russia’s leading research institutions in the field of fisheries, salmon landings in the North Pacific Ocean (NPO) amounted to 528,000 tonnes in 2024, with Russia leading fish catches in the region.  

This marks the largest share of Russian catch in the region, accounting for almost 48% of the NPO’s total catch last year. In second place was the United States with 42% and Japan in third place with 9%.  

According to experts from Russian newswire Fish News...

Japan’s Frozen Pollock Surimi Imports Increased 4% in Q1

Japan's frozen pollock surimi imports for the first quarter of 2025 reached a cumulative volume of 15,478 tons, up 4% from the same period last year.

Of that total quantity, 10,953 tons were exported from the U.S., falling 18% year-on-year, while 4,525 tons were exported from Russia, increasing 2.8 times year-on-year. As such, the import volume ratio between the two countries was 71 to 29.

Imported pollock surimi is the main ingredient of Japanese-produced surimi products, with the United States and Russia being the only two...

European Union Imposes Sanctions on Russian Fish Sector for the First Time

The European Union has imposed sanctions on the Russian fish sector as part of its 17th package of sanctions, which was officially approved two days ago. This marks the first time that Russian fish producers and processors have been included in any sanction lists.

The motive for introducing the restrictions, which were imposed on two fishing companies—Norebo Holding, one of Russia’s leading fish producers and processors, and Murman SeaFood—was their unusual trawler movement, which the European regulator considered atypical for fishing activities...

Russia to Increase Fish Exports to Vietnam

Russia plans to increase its fish exports to Vietnam this year thanks to the ever-growing demand from local processors.

According to German Zverev, President of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers, Vietnam is actively expanding its processing capacities and becoming a key player in the global market. In 2024, the country almost liquidated its gap with China in terms of fish exports.

At present, Vietnamese processors mainly work with local raw materials, such as pangasius and tilapia, but its taste is inferior to wild fish. Thus, Russia can become an important...

Russian Crabbers Increase Domestic Prices, Hope to Resume Exports to the US

Crab prices in Russia are steadily growing, mainly due to the country's ongoing export growth. According to analysts, in the first three months of 2025, Russia exported 17,000 tons of crab worth more than $440 million, which is almost by 25% more in both volume and value terms than the previous year.  

That contributes to the growth of crab prices in the domestic market.  

According to recent statements made by Valentin Balashov, Chairman of the Interregional Association of Coastal Fishery Industrialists of the Northern Basin, in an interview...

Russian Salmon Catch Not to Exceed 400,000 Tons, Says Russian Federal Fish Agency

According to Russia’s federal fish agency, Rosrybolovstvo, the country’s domestic salmon catch is not likely to exceed 400,000 tons this year. This expectation is in line with initial forecasts that were made by agency analysts alongside leading Russian fishery scientists.

Ilya Shestakov, the agency’s head, confirmed this, stating, “There are preliminary forecasts that our science is already providing. They will certainly be updated after the studies that will be held in May.”

At the end of November 2024, in an interview with the TV channel Russia-24...

Russia Expects Steady Growth of Crab Supplies to Domestic Market

Crab supplies to the Russian market are expected to grow this year due to the ever-growing demand and consumption of crab from local customers and a significant decline in exports.

According to earlier data provided by the Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE), domestic crab supplies in 2024 grew by 20% year-on-year, reaching up to 8,000 tonnes. Given the availability of affordable crab options combined with increased consumption and supply, there is a possibility that that growth will continue this year.

Unlike previous years, crab is no...

Russian Financial Conglomerate AFK Sistema Sells Major Salmon Fishing Asset in Kamchatka

The Russian financial conglomerate AFK Sistema has decided to sell its major fishing asset, Voskhod Holding, one of Russia’s largest Pacific salmon fishing companies, with a business value of approximately RUB 15 billion (USD $183 million).  

The new owner became AO Insoft, which is owned by Russian businesswoman Milana Kerimova.   

At present, Voskhod Holding is considered one of Russia’s largest Pacific salmon producers. The company's main assets are located in Kamchatka, including 30 fishing grounds, six factories, and more than 35 ships. These capacities allow the company...

Russia to Accelerate Domestic Fisheries Research in 2025

This year, Russia plans to accelerate research activities for its domestic fisheries sector, with the aim of increasing catch efficiency and creating sector conditions for further growth.

According to recent statements from Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo, one of the country’s foremost goals regarding fishery science is to provide more accurate forecasts to domestic fisherman. Improvements in this area will then provide Russian fishermen with an opportunity to increase catch in particular fishing areas and zones.

Russia expects to utilize the resource of the Russian State Research Center (VNIRO)...

Russia Aims for 89,000-Ton Catch from Faroese Waters This Year

This year, Russia plans to catch about 89,000 tons of fish in the waters of the Faroe Islands, which aligns with earlier forecasts made by experts of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE).

The current catch is being conducted in the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the Faroe Islands as part of an existing agreement between the Faroe Islands and Russia. This mutual fishing agreement, initially established in 1977, has been extended, despite previous protests from some Western countries, and is revised...

Russia’s Sakhalin Region Plans to Increase Fish Catch This Year

The authorities of the Sakhalin region, one of Russia’s major fish-producing regions, aims to increase its fish catch this year, according to recent statements from Sakhalin government officials and local media sources.

At present, most of Sakhalin’s fish catch consists of pollock, cod, herring, flounder, navaga, greenling, and Pacific salmon, as well as seafood, crustaceans, and mollusks. While local fisherman caught about 745,000 tons of both fish and seafood last year, Sakhalin authorities hope to increase these figures in 2025, with particular attention on increasing its salmon catch...

Russia Increases 2025 Seafood Exports to South Korea

This year, Russia is increasing its fish exports to South Korea, reaching record figures compared to the last two years, according to Russian media reports and recent data from the South Korean statistics agency.

In March, Russia exported 31,400 tons of fish and seafood to South Korea, which became one of the highest figures in the last several years and showed a 30% increase compared to February 2025.

The bulk of supplies accounted for frozen fish (26,100 tons), fish fillets (2,700 tons) and crab (2,000 tons).

Currently, Russia remains the second main...

Russia to Sell New 2025 Crab Quotas to Investors

The Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) has announced a tender for the distribution of crab quotas for a total sum of RUB 2.1 billion (US$26 million).  

Under the terms of the tender, the winner of the tender will build medium-tonnage fishing vessels over 50 meters long that are designed for crab catch.  

As for quotas, they will be for extracting red snow crab in the Primorye subzone (50%), red snow crab in the West Sakhalin subzone (50%), snow crab angulatus in the East Sakhalin subzone (50%) and...

Russia Wraps up Successful Pollock Fishing Season "A"

Russian fisherman recently completed a successful "A" season for domestic pollock fishing, which led to the growth of catch in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, Russia’s main pollock-producing area of the country, amounting to about 850,000 tons and over 1 million tons for the entire Far Eastern basin.

This was recently confirmed by Alexey Buglak, President of the Russian Pollock Association (ADM), who commented in an interview with the Russian magazine Fish News that despite difficult weather conditions, the growth of catch in the Sea of Okhotsk was...

Russia Optimistic About 2025 Salmon Catch in Kamchatka Region

Kamchatka will become one of Russia's main salmon regions this year, with a catch of almost 200,000 tons of salmon expected this summer alone.  

As reported in the Russian business paper Kommersant, the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries cited June 1 as the season opening for the peninsula’s main fishing season.

According to forecasts by Russian scientists, 89,000 tons of salmon can be caught on the eastern coast of Kamchatka and about 110,000 tons on the western coast. Traditionally, the bulk of catch will account for pink salmon, amounting to approximately...

Russia Focuses on Boosting Seafood Exports, Particularly Value-Added Fish Products

Throughout the year, Russia plans to continue expanding its export geography for Russian fish and fish products.

At the recent meeting of the State Council commission on “International Cooperation and Export,” Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo stated that Russia currently exports fish to more than 90 countries.

Shestakov added, “We see potential for further export growth, primarily to friendly countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. We continue systematic work to promote Russian fish and seafood in foreign markets.”

As Shestakov believes, the Russian fisheries complex...

Russia and Caspian Countries Consider Extending Ban on Commercial Sturgeon Fishing in Caspian Sea

Russia and the other countries bordering the Caspian Sea will consider an extension of the commercial ban on sturgeon fishing in the world's largest inland body of water, which lies before Europe and Asia.

This has been recently confirmed by Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo, at the XI Nevsky International Ecological Congress in St. Petersburg.

Recalling that this ban was introduced by Caspian countries in 2013, Shestakov reported that the ichthyofauna of the Caspian Sea includes 150 species, of which 30 are commercial...

Russia May Face a Flounder Shortage This Year

This year, due to a significant reduction in flounder catch and a high share of export products (up to 25%), Russia may be facing a flounder shortage and a coinciding price surge to match.

According to the latest data, flounder prices in Russia have already grown by more than 30% since the beginning of the current year, with growth still ongoing.

According to the Fish Union, 2025 flounder catch in the Far East has decreased by 25% year-on-year, though the “high season,” for flounder catch is still underway, falling in the...

Russia Able to Catch 312,000 Tons of Pacific Salmon in Far East This Year

Russian fisherman will be able to catch 312,000 tons of Pacific salmon in the Far East this year, which is a lower catch volume compared to the majority of past seasons.

During a recent meeting of the Far Eastern Scientific and Industrial Council, Kirill Kolonchin, Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), stated that the decrease in catches is a result of the poor survival rate of fish, which is caused by global warming.

According to Kolonchin, the catch decrease will...

Russia Actively Increases Exports of Pollock Fillets and Minced Meat

Russia is actively increasing its exports of pollock fillets and minced pollock meat as the demand for such products remains high.

According to Russian newswire Fishnews, the Russian Federal Center stated that exports between January and March 2025 increased by 72% year-on-year, exceeding USD $140 million, with the bulk of supplies accounting for pollock fillets and minced meat. In terms of volume, exports increased by 61%, amounting to 50,000 tons.

Among the largest buyers of Russian fish fillets are the Republic of Korea and China, where the...

Russia to Increase Exports of Deep-Processed Fish Products to BRICS Markets

This year, Russia will accelerate its efforts to increase exports of deep-processed fish products to key BRICS partners, among which are India, Brazil, and China.

According to earlier statements made by German Zverev, President of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE), in an interview with Russian media, the biggest export potential is currently observed with pollock fillets, surimi, clipfish, and fishmeal.

Perhaps the biggest hopes are associated with supplies to the Indian market, where Russia estimates the annual supply of pollock fillets could reach...

Russia Unhappy with Zero Quota for Atlantic Capelin Fishing

Russia is displeased with its zero quota for Atlantic capelin fishing this year, according to earlier statements by German Zverev, head of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE).  

As Zverev said in an interview with Russian newswire Ria Novosti, while Norway has a significant 2025 quota for capelin fishing, which it uses as salmon feed, Russia received a zero quota for the same year, despite how important of a fish capelin is for Russians. Zverev also recalled that Russia only caught part of its approved quota for... 

Russia Hopes for Good Mackerel Catches This Year Despite Earlier Reports of Stock Decline

Russia is hoping for good mackerel catches this year despite some earlier reports about a significant decline of mackerel stock within domestic territorial waters as well as abroad.

According to recent statements from leading Russian fisheries scientists, the Atlantic mackerel stock continues to remain stable and is not at risk of decline due to overfishing.

Oleg Bulatov, Director of Research at the Russian State Research Center of Fisheries and Oceanography, explained how scientists monitor stocks and analyze mackerel catches every year. According to him, mackerel stocks in both...

Russia Reduces Imports of Fish Products from “Unfriendly” States

Lately, Russia has been reducing its imports of fish products from so-called “unfriendly” states, according to recent statements from local fishermen and Russian media reports.

According to earlier data provided by the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE), which cites statistics from Trademap, Russia only imported 2.28%, or less than 6,500 tons, of frozen, smoked, and dried fish and seafood from “unfriendly” countries in 2024 was 2.28%.

Most of these imports were delivered from South Korea along with Taiwan and some other countries...

Russia Reduces its Output of Fish Products This Year

This year, Russia has reduced its production of fish products, mainly due to unfavorable weather conditions, which have led to a decline in pollock catch, the most important fish in the country’s overall fish catch structure.

According to data from the Russian Fish Union’s Analytical Center, the production of Russian fish products in Q1 2025 amounted to 1.16 million tons, which is 3% lower on year-on-year basis. Of these products, frozen fish products decreased by 4%, amounting to 722,000 tons. At the same time, the production of frozen fish...

Russia Increases 2025 Crab Exports by 26%

Russia has increased its 2025 crab exports by 26%, compared to the same period last year, according to data provided by Russian analysts and local media.

According to estimates from experts at the Federal Center for Development of Agricultural Exports of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia (Agroexport), Russia exported about 17,000 tons of crab during Q1 2025, worth more than US$440 million. Compared to the same period last year, supplies increased by 23% in volume and 26% in terms of value.

The majority of crab was exported to China, which...

Russia Plans to Lift Restrictions on Shrimp Catch This Year

Russia is considering a significant increase to its shrimp catch this year, which should lead to reduced imports to the domestic market.

For this purpose, Russian authorities plan to lift all the existing restrictions on the catch of northern and scalloped shrimp in the Primorye subzone and the West Sakhalin subzone.

According to recent calculations made by German Zverev, head of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE), maintaining the current ban will lead to potential losses of up to 1,500-ton catch volumes, which is equivalent to 6%...

Russia Seeks to Increase 2025 Catches in Territorial Waters of African States

Since the beginning of 2025, the overall fish catch in Russia has exceeded 1.6 million tons, according to recent statements by an official spokesman of Rosrybolovstvo, Russia’s federal fish agency.

Of all the country’s regions, the biggest catch volume produced so far was in the Far Eastern basin with a volume equivalent to 1.352 million tons.

This year, a significant growth in catch has been achieved in the territorial waters of some foreign states (particularly certain African states), where, as of now, the Russian fleet has produced about...