Russia's wild salmon production may be far lower than expected in 2025

The Russian Sakhalin Fisheries Committee has forecasted a decrease in the wild Pacific salmon catch in the Far East this year, with pink salmon possibly seeing a 25% drop from 2023 due to uncertain environmental conditions. The Russian Federal Institute of Marine Fisheries (VNIRO) has suggested implementing fishing restrictions and changing the start date for fishing in the northwest sea area of Sakhalin to minimize the impact on pink salmon. The total catch for this year is projected to be around 62,000 tons, slightly higher than in 2024. The decrease in the salmon catch is largely attributed to climate change, especially global warming.

On February 17, the Russian Sakhalin Fisheries Committee held a meeting. Representatives of the Russian Federal Institute of Marine Fisheries (VNIRO) said at the meeting that the catch of wild Pacific salmon in the Far East this year is expected to be around 311,000 tons. Due to unfavorable climatic conditions, the catch of pink salmon may be 25% lower than in 2023. VNIRO department head Olga Maznikova said: "According to scientists' forecasts, the reason for the expected decline in catches is that there are many uncertainties in the environmental conditions in the feeding areas of pink salmon." VNIRO recommends the southwest and southeastern waters of Sakhalin, as well as Aniva Bay and the Gulf of Patience and other areas have implemented fishing restrictions, and the fishing start date in the northwest sea area of Sakhalin has been changed from June 15 to July 1. It is estimated that in 2025, pink salmon will account for 60% of the wild salmon catch in Sakhalin, 26% of dog ...