Russia has reported a substantial increase in its aquaculture feed production, marking a nearly 40 percent surge. This surge comes as the country intensifies efforts to reduce dependence on imported feed, aiming to bolster its domestic aquaculture industry.
According to the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency (Rosrybolovstvo), aquaculture feed production soared by 39 percent from January to November 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, reaching a total of 48,000 metric tons. This notable uptick is attributed in part to a collaborative initiative between the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) and OJSC Melkombinat (Aquarex), a local feed company established in 2009.
Under the guidance of VNRIO scientists and specialists, Aquarex has played a crucial role in producing starter and production feeds for various aquaculture facilities. Extensive testing of aquaculture feed was conducted at over 60 fish farms in 2023, demonstrating the effectiveness of domestically produced feed.
Buoyed by the success of this collaboration, Aquarex has announced plans to construct a new aquaculture feed plant in Russia’s Smolensk region. The proposed facility is anticipated to have a production capacity exceeding 100,000 metric tons annually, further enhancing domestic aquafeed production.
The surge in aquaculture feed production follows the withdrawal of international aquaculture feed companies from the Russian market amid geopolitical tensions. To address potential feed shortages, Russian aquaculture firms have sought alternative sources, including feed imports from countries such as Iran, Turkey, and Belarus.
Despite initial concerns over feed shortages, Rosrybolovstvo reports robust aquaculture production in 2023, surpassing original forecasts. Total aquaculture production is estimated to exceed 400,000 metric tons, reflecting an 8 percent increase over 2022 figures.
However, some Russian analysts have raised questions about the reporting methods employed by Rosrybolovstvo. Inna Golfand, in particular, has pointed out that the agency’s figures include both commercial and non-commercial aquaculture production, potentially inflating the reported totals.
