Nets have been neglected: fishing has decreased in Russia
In Russia, salmon catch decreased by 57% and cod — by 8.5%, according to data from Rosrybolovstvo and Natsrybresursov. The fishing season for many types of fish is already coming to an end. Overall, fish production decreased by 3.4%. A decrease in catch and an increase in world prices have led to an increase in the price of products on the domestic market. Pink salmon, chum salmon, mackerel and pollock increased the most in price. How the authorities and business assess the situation in the industry is described in the Izvestia article.
Which fish are being caught less
A reduction in fish catch has been recorded in all fishing basins where fishing is conducted. This follows from the data of Rosrybolovstvo on October 26, compared with the same period in 2025. According to the document reviewed by Izvestia, catch decreased by 66.2% in the Azov-Black Sea basin, by 17.2% in the Volga-Caspian basin, by 4.3% in the Western Basin, by 1.5% in the Far East, and by 0.8% in the Northern Basin. Production in the exclusive economic zones of foreign countries, convention areas and the open part of the World Ocean decreased by another 13.8%.
At the same time, the overall decrease in catch does not look critical yet. According to the ministry, by the end of October, production amounted to 3.93 million tons — 137.2 thousand tons, or 3.4% less than in the same period last year.
Rosrybolovstvo also notes a decrease in the level of development of fishing quotas by fishermen. If 4.94 million tons of fish were caught in 2024, and the development of quotas amounted to 73.4%, then in 2025 the figures decreased to 4.7 million tons and 68.7%. As of October 26, 2026, production amounted to 3.93 million tons, and the quota utilization rate was 55.5%.
According to the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Natsrybresurs" on October 26, the catch of salmon fish decreased the most — by 57.4%, as well as cod — by 8.5%. At the same time, herring production increased by 37%, pollock — by 2.2%.
The most expensive salmon fish was the Far Eastern pink salmon. Its wholesale price increased by 103% over the year, to 670 rubles per 1 kg, calculated by Izvestia on the basis of data from Natsrybresurs. At the same time, in Central Russia the price was 710 rubles per 1 kg. The cost of Far Eastern chum salmon has also increased by 80%, to 830 rubles per 1 kg. In the central part of the country, this figure reaches 870 rubles per 1 kg. Pollock has also significantly increased in price — by 54.5%. The cost of Atlantic mackerel in wholesale increased by 80%, to 495 rubles per 1 kg, and in the north-western regions — by 86.5%, to 485 rubles per 1 kg. Officially, the agency does not provide statistics on the catch of this fish, however, as Kommersant previously wrote, this year it decreased by 8%, which was one of the reasons for its rise in price.
Herring, popular among Russians, rose the least in price: Atlantic herring — by 17.6%, Pacific herring — by 7%. Among the red fish, the Far Eastern sockeye salmon has increased most noticeably in price — by 47%, to 1,150 rubles per 1 kg.
In general, frozen fish has risen in price by 15-19% over the year. This trend is confirmed by Rosstat data: recently, prices for such products have been rising weekly.
However, according to Rosrybolovstvo, the overall situation in the industry is stable.
— The catch structure is changing: in salmon, it decreased, while the production volumes of pollock and herring increased. The diversified structure of Russian fishing reduces the industry's dependence on the results of individual operations. Successful fishing of the main species supports a stable supply of fish products to the domestic market," the agency's press service told Izvestia.
They noted that, taking into account the planned restoration of the cod spawning stock in the Northern Basin, the catch will be increased by 14% in 2027. This decision was made within the framework of the Joint Russian-Norwegian Commission. In addition, Rosrybolovstvo clarified that the level of development of fishing quotas varies depending on the pools and fish species.
"One of the industry's priorities is to increase the competitiveness of fish products so that the domestic quality product is more recognizable and in demand in the domestic and later foreign markets," the ministry explained. — Today, Russia exports such products to more than 100 countries, contributing to the gross domestic product. This corresponds to the goal of increasing agricultural exports by 1.5 times by 2030 compared to 2021. At the same time, it is important to ensure the availability of fish products for Russians, to promote fish consumption within the country — and in this direction, business is already actively cooperating with the regions.
What is the reason for the reduction in catch and quota development?
According to industry representatives, the reduction in catch and the increase in prices are due to a number of reasons. As explained in the Association of Industrial and Commercial Enterprises of the fish market, the decline in salmon production was influenced by the unsuccessful Putin, which has become one of the worst in the last 20 years.
— Fewer fish were caught, and the demand for it among Russians is always very high. Hence the significant price increase. In addition, the cost was affected by the increased cost of logistics, which has been difficult this year," Alexander Fomin, executive director of the association, explained to Izvestia.
As for pollock, which is not in short supply on the domestic market, it was probably affected by the increase in world prices, which fishermen adjusted to, the expert believes. Inflation has led to an increase in the price of other types of fish, he added.
The Association of Shipowners of the Fishing Fleet refrained from commenting on the price increase, noting that for some types of fish, such as herring, production exceeds last year's figures. However, the association also recognized a number of difficulties.
— Today, the industry is operating under conditions of high investment burden associated with a large-scale fleet upgrade. Against the background of the high key interest rate, the costs of building ships and servicing loans are increasing, and the construction time is also increasing. The tax burden has also increased significantly: the collection rates for the extraction of aquatic biological resources have increased with their annual indexation, and the income tax has increased, the press service of the association told Izvestia.
They also drew attention to the foreign policy and economic situation, which negatively affects the export earnings of fishermen.
— Despite the growth in exports in some areas, there is a decline in others. At the same time, even an increase in export revenue does not guarantee revenue growth: sales margins are declining due to barriers in unfriendly markets for Russian fish products, rising logistics costs and production costs, the association stressed. — Sanctions restrictions on navigation also have a negative impact, including a ban on port calls and cargo transshipment in the North and Central Atlantic.
As reported to Izvestia by the analytical company Kontur.Focus", in 2026 the market moved from growth to stagnation. The number of organizations in the fields of fisheries, fish farming and fish processing has hardly changed, and the number of new registrations has decreased by a quarter. At the same time, the total number of companies in the entire industry — including processing, fishing and fish farming — decreased by 24, or only 0.15%.
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