The success of the season is being actively supported by comprehensive scientific efforts

Far East Salmon Fishery Kicks Off Strong, Exceeding Previous Years' Catches

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

Pacific salmon fishing is gaining significant momentum across Russia's Far Eastern regions, with Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, and Primorye leading the charge. Despite challenging weather in some areas, early catches in many regions are substantially surpassing figures from 2023 and 2024, signaling a promising start to the season.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – The highly anticipated Pacific salmon fishing season is now in full swing across Russia's Far Eastern territories, with most major fishing grounds, including those in Kamchatka, actively participating. Since July 11, fishermen from Penzhinsky, Karaginsky, Sobolevsky, Bystrinsky, and Ust-Bolsheretsky districts in Kamchatka have begun their operations, with the exception of the Ozernaya River and its adjacent sea area. The season further expanded on July 15 with the commencement of pink salmon fishing on the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, specifically in the Piltun Bay channel extending to Cape Terpeniya.

The initial weekly catch dynamics across the Far East have been robust, amounting to approximately 25.5 thousand tons. While Kamchatka is navigating complicated weather conditions, fishermen there continue to successfully harvest Pacific salmon. Meanwhile, Khabarovsk Krai and Primorye are demonstrating a particularly strong performance, significantly outpacing their catches from both 2023 and 2024. Notable increases are also being observed in the Magadan Region and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

Regional Catch Highlights (as of July 15):

• Kamchatka Krai: 27.9 thousand tons

• Khabarovsk Krai: 9.2 thousand tons (a remarkable 8.5 thousand tons, or 14 times, more than the 2023 figure)

• Primorsky Krai: 7.9 thousand tons (7.1 thousand tons, or 8 times, more than the 2023 figure of 0.9 thousand tons)

• Magadan Region: 6 thousand tons (2.0 thousand tons, or 1.6 times, more than the 2023 level of 3.9 thousand tons)

• Chukotka Autonomous Okrug: 235 tons (an increase of 19 tons, or 108%, compared to the 2023 level of 216.1 tons)

• Sakhalin Region: 1.5 thousand tons

Advanced Scientific Support and Regulatory Oversight

The success of the season is being actively supported by comprehensive scientific efforts. The State Research Center of the Russian Federation, Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "VNIRO," continues to provide crucial scientific backing for the fishing season. Specialized groups of scientists are deployed across various fishing areas, employing a wide array of advanced technologies and methodologies. This includes the use of unmanned and manned aerial vehicles, hydroacoustic sections, photo traps, and elements of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, VNIRO conducts control rafting, thorough foot surveys of spawning watercourses, and assesses the performance of commercial fishing gear, ensuring data-driven management.

Video footage: Sergey Lavrov

In response to ongoing monitoring, five adjustments have already been made to the catch volumes of pink salmon in the Primorye subzone and the continental coast of the Sea of Okhotsk (within the Magadan Region). Additionally, sockeye salmon catch volumes have been adjusted in the Karaginskaya and Petropavlovsk-Komandorskaya subzones, reflecting adaptive management practices.

To safeguard the future of these valuable fish species, territorial departments of the Federal Agency for Fishery in the Far East are maintaining rigorous control over compliance with fishing regulations in inland waters. This oversight is particularly critical during the spawning run of Pacific salmon, aimed at ensuring successful reproduction and preventing poaching activities.

The robust start to the season and the integrated approach to management suggest a positive outlook for Pacific salmon catches in Russia's Far Eastern regions this year.

Source: Federal Agency for Fisheries

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