According to preliminary figures released by the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries, aquaculture production was up 5.60% in 2018, with a 232,000 tonne growth in production.
The most significant change was in the Far Eastern Federal District, where the volume was to close to 31,000 tonnes, representing a 34% increase, while the North-West Federal District saw a 59,500 tonne production with a 21% increase. The The Ural Federal District had a 10,000 tonne production, up 15.50%
According to the Agency, the increase is largely due to the allocation of new plots for aquaculture and mariculture, following the entry into force three years ago of new legislation relating to aquaculture with a raft of supportive state measures.
The largest aquaculture region is currently in the Southern Federal District with a production of more than 77,000 tonnes, which is roughly the same figure as in the previous year.
A spokesman for the Federal Agency for Fisheries stated that with data from some regions still to be updated, the final figures for 2018 will be presented at a later date.
Under Russia’s strategy for the development of its domestic fisheries by 2030, plans are for aquaculture to roughly triple its output to 600,000 tonnes.
