Image: Federal Agency for Fisheries / FIS

Rosrybolovstvo Considers Reducing Pollock Catch Quota for 2025

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 07:00 (GMT + 9)

The head of Rosrybolovstvo, Ilya Shestakov, held a meeting on the issue of establishing the total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for 2025. Among other things, the issue of a possible decrease in TAC in the Bering Sea was discussed.

Materials substantiating the pollock TAC for 2025, prepared by science, are now undergoing state environmental assessment.

Proposals to reduce the TAC were raised by the main industry associations - the Association of Fishing Fleet Shipowners (ASRF), the All-Russian Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE) and the Association of Pollock Harvesters (ADM).

The meeting noted the importance of obtaining an up-to-date assessment of pollock stocks in all fishing areas for the effective development of national resources without damaging the environment and the production activities of companies.

Source: Stockfile FIS

Representatives of the associations recalled the difficulties associated with the restructuring of export supplies after the pandemic and sanctions imposed by unfriendly countries.

The head of Rosrybolovstvo emphasized that the determination of the TAC is based, first of all, on scientific data, so further decisions will be made on the basis of updated information from industry science.

“We hear business, we understand the importance of maintaining profitability and export revenue, including for the country’s budget. Now the balance of supply and demand is leveling out, the catch is stable, and pollock has shown good results. Our task is to maintain this trend, load new vessels for processing fillets and minced meat, and increase export volumes,” said Ilya Shestakov.

A decrease in the TAC value will not entail a decrease in fish supplies either to the domestic market or for export. Domestic fishermen catch a large volume of pollock, which allows them to supply Russian consumers and meet the demand of foreign partners. Today it is more relevant to talk not about the volume of production, but about the quality of products obtained from the catches. The priority is highly processed products: fillet, minced meat, surimi, caviar - it is for these purposes that a large-scale renewal of the fishing fleet is underway.

The head of Rosrybolovstvo noted that companies need to promote pollock products more widely, diversify supplies, not focus on the Chinese and European markets, and also seriously engage in working with domestic consumers.

The possibility of reducing the TAC of pollock for 2025 remains on the agenda: the decision will be made on the basis of updated scientific data on the state of pollock stocks, analysis of market conditions and production plans of companies.

Source: United press service of Rosrybolovstvo (Translated from the original in Russian)

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