Socio-economic consequences of seasonality in fishery for coastal communities in the Kamchatka region

Abstract

This article examines the socioeconomic consequences of fishery seasonality for coastal communities in Kamchatka Krai. It is shown that seasonal and interannual variations in catches, particularly for Pacific salmon, during the salmon run promote employment and income growth, while during the off-season, they exacerbate income instability, labor shortages, migration outflow, and underutilization of processing facilities. The negative impact of seasonality is compounded by infrastructure constraints, high logistics costs, and the increasing financial burden on enterprises. A comprehensive economic policy focused on developing year-round employment, onshore processing, and the logistics and social infrastructure of coastal communities is needed.