Russia Says 3.5 Million-Tonne Fish Catch Can Cover Domestic and Export Demand
Russia has harvested 3.5 million tonnes of aquatic biological resources and says supplies will cover domestic consumption and export commitments. More than 1.5 million tonnes of fish and seafood have been exported since the start of 2026, while aquaculture remains at about 400,000 tonnes.
Catch expected to remain near the 2025 level
Russia expects its fish supply to be sufficient for both domestic consumption and all existing export commitments, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev said at the International Fishery Forum. Current production of aquatic biological resources stands at 3.5 million tonnes, providing the basis for the government’s assessment of market availability.
According to the Federal Agency for Fishery, the result for 2026 is expected to be comparable with the 2025 level. Patrushev said output remains exposed to several factors, particularly natural conditions. The salmon fishing season produced a weaker result than expected, illustrating the volatility that can affect individual species even when the overall catch remains substantial.
The available figures do not provide a breakdown by species beyond the reference to salmon. They also do not identify individual foreign destinations. This limits any assessment of which product categories or export markets are most exposed to changes in Russia’s catch, although the government says the aggregate supply is sufficient.
Aquaculture output remains on a plateau
Farmed-fish production is about 400,000 tonnes and has remained at that level for several years. Patrushev described the aquaculture segment as having reached a plateau. Unlike wild capture fisheries, which depend on natural stocks and seasonal conditions, aquaculture offers the industry a way to increase production in a more controlled manner.
That potential has not yet translated into higher volumes. The gap between the 3.5 million tonnes harvested from aquatic biological resources and the roughly 400,000 tonnes supplied by aquaculture shows that Russia’s fish sector remains predominantly dependent on wild catch. For producers and processors, expanding farming could provide a steadier source of raw material when salmon runs or other fisheries fall below expectations.
Patrushev said the sector should pursue more ambitious production targets. He cited an improved legal framework, clearer long-term rules and a broad renewal of production capacity as conditions supporting further growth. No new aquaculture target or timetable was disclosed.
Fleet investment supports processing and exports
Russia has completed 58 fishing vessels under its investment-quota programme, while another 64 are under construction. Introduced in 2017, the programme gives fishing companies access to harvesting rights in exchange for commitments to build vessels at Russian shipyards or invest in shore-based infrastructure.
The new fleet is intended to raise both harvesting efficiency and processing capacity. According to Patrushev, one large vessel can process as much as 60,000 tonnes of fish annually at sea. That capacity allows companies to produce more higher-value goods before the catch reaches shore, potentially changing the product mix available to domestic buyers and overseas customers.
Russia exported more than 1.5 million tonnes of fish and seafood from the beginning of 2026 to the date of Patrushev’s statement. Exports totaled about 2 million tonnes in 2025, and Russian products are supplied to more than 100 countries. Patrushev said he expects full-year exports to exceed the previous year’s volume. With destination-level and species-level data not provided, the outlook rests on the aggregate catch, continued fleet renewal and the industry’s ability to process more output into higher-value products.
