Photo: Federal Agency for Fisheries

Russian Aquaculture Industry Makes Strides in Import Substitution

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Friday, February 14, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Russia's aquaculture sector is making significant progress in reducing its reliance on imported fish feed and planting material, according to recent data. In 2024, domestic production of fish feed reached 51,400 tons, a 19% increase compared to 2023. This production now covers approximately 25% of the domestic aquaculture market's needs.

Photo: LLC RRPK Vostok/YouTube

Prior to 2022, Russia's salmon aquaculture industry was heavily dependent on imported feed, with foreign sources accounting for as much as 90% of the supply.  In 2023, the government introduced additional support measures, including subsidies covering 25% of direct capital costs for the construction and modernization of specialized fish feed production facilities.

Photo: LLC RRPK Vostok/YouTube

This support has spurred investment in domestic production capacity. New fish feed facilities have been established in the Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod, Astrakhan regions, and the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.  Additionally, an existing facility in the Saratov region has been modernized.  Forecasts suggest that by 2030, existing and planned production capacity will reach approximately 250,000 tons of fish feed annually.

Significant progress has also been made in domestic production of salmon seed. In 2024, Russian fish farms sourced 15% of their salmon seed domestically.  Previously, up to 2021, approximately 98% of salmon seed was imported, primarily from Norway, Denmark, the USA, and France.

Photo: LLC RRPK Vostok/YouTube

Russian fish farmers are increasingly turning to domestic breeding farms, which offer breeds adapted to local conditions and greater transparency regarding disease management.  To meet growing demand, the existing breeding farm in Adler was modernized in 2024, and new facilities were constructed in the Vologda and Yaroslavl regions, as well as the Republic of Karelia.

Looking ahead, forecasts indicate that by 2030, Russia's commercial salmon farming sector will achieve 80% self-sufficiency in planting material and 90% in feed.

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