Bad weather causes a drop in Russian pollock catch, while deep-processed products see growth

Russian pollock catches are expected to rise as weather conditions improve, with the total catch projected to exceed 1 million tons by mid-April. In the meantime, fishermen are utilizing the downtime by increasing herring catches, which have risen by 13% year-on-year. Additionally, the deep-processing of pollock has seen a 17% increase, with a notable surge in surimi production by 41%. This shift towards value-added products is seen as a strategic move to mitigate market fluctuations and diversify both domestic and international sales channels. The Russian pollock industry is facing significant structural adjustments and is on the verge of new growth opportunities, with a strong focus on enhancing the value of deep-processed products and establishing stable sales channels within the domestic and international markets.

Although the catch declined in January, it is expected to pick up in the coming months as weather conditions improve. Forecasts show that by mid-April, the total catch of pollock in the Russian Far East may exceed 1 million tons. Fishermen turn to herring fishing, and the output of pollock deep processing increases While pollock fishing is hindered, Russian fishermen are more interested in herring fishing. According to the analysis of experts from Russia's VNIRO (All-Russian Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography), Russia's herring catch increased by 13% year-on-year in January 2025, and some fishery companies chose herring as an alternative fishing target. At the same time, the output of pollock deep-processed products has increased significantly. As of January 2025, the output of Russian pollock deep-processed products (including fillets, surimi and fish paste) increased by 17% year-on-year to 7,600 tons. Changes in the structure of pollock deep-processing products: fillets ...