This article presents the results of a study examining multiple indicators describing the current state of the Russian Federation’s fisheries industry, as well as the challenges facing fisheries science and their solutions. The achievements of the fishing industry are inextricably linked to the research conducted by the Russian State Research Center of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO). The institute conducts a wide range of research related to addressing such pressing issues as the conservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, which is undoubtedly essential for ensuring future generations have sufficient fish and seafood. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the role and importance of fisheries science in addressing current and future challenges.

This study are contained analyzes the results of salmon catch in 2025 year in the Far Eastern fishery Basin and the key factors that determined the different between actual and forecasted yield. This work is based on state monitoring data characterizing the dynamics of Pacific salmon runs and fishery statistics provided by the territorial offices of the Federal Agency for fisheries.

The ecological conditions of the Volga-Caspian basin have changed significantly in recent decades, which affects both the reproduction of semi-anadromous and freshwater fish and the actual volumes of their catch. These changes also affect the European catfish Silurus glanis. Aſter the regulation of the Volga River, its main concentrations have shiſted from the delta areas to the upstream areas. In years with low water levels, the decrease in the Caspian Sea level reduces the area of catfish spawning and feeding habitats, which is particularly detrimental to younger age groups. A combination of unfavorable environmental factors caused changes in the biological parameters of the population, reduced its reproductive potential, and led to a decrease in its number.

Based on the results of a 2025 study of the downstream migration of juvenile pink salmon in 10 rivers, an estimate was made of the numbers of fry migrating from the spawning grounds of all rivers in the northern and southern parts of the eastern coast of Sakhalin Island and the Sea of Okhotsk coast of Iturup Island. An early end to the mass downstream migration was noted in all control rivers, which corresponds to the dynamics of the spawning year-class fish arrival in 2024, in which pink salmon were represented mainly by fish of an early temporal form. A total of 390,6∙10⁶ fry migrated from the spawning grounds of the rivers of the northern part of eastern Sakhalin, which is slightly more than that of the parental year-class (383,4∙10⁶ ind.). This increase, despite a decrease in reproduction efficiency, was ensured by a higher number of spawners at the spawning grounds (2506∙10³ ind. and 3435∙10³ ind. in 2022 and 2024). In contrast, in the southern part of East Sakhalin, conditions for the reproduction of the daughter generation were better. As a result, significantly more fry (545,2∙10⁶ ind.) migrated from the spawning grounds of all rivers compared to the parent generation (379,4∙10⁶ ind.), despite the smaller number of spawners entering the rivers (6645∙10³ ind. and 5178∙10³ ind. in 2022 and 2024). The number of fry migrating from the spawning grounds of the rivers of the Sea of Okhotsk coast of Iturup Island (40,2∙10⁶ ind.) was many times smaller than that of the parent generation (265,4∙10⁶ ind.), which was due to a shortage of spawners at the spawning grounds (1580∙10³ ind. and 200∙10³ ind. in 2022 and 2024).

This paper examines the fishing characteristics and evolution of the fishing gear used for flatfishes in the northern North Okhotsk subzone of the Sea of Okhotsk, both historically and in the present day. It is shown that from the 1930s to 2025, the main flatfish fishing area was the relatively small waters of the eastern part of Tauy Bay and the adjacent waters of the Koni Peninsula. Meanwhile, in the western part (west of 146°E) of the North Okhotsk subzone of the Sea of Okhotsk, the fishery was poorly developed – approximately 1,924 tons (2004–2025). At the same time, significant aggregations of commercial-sized fish were discovered in the western part of the waters. The intensity of flatfish fishing in these aggregations was comparable to that in the waters of the traditional fishing area.

The results of the Russian fishery in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean, beyond the Exclusives Economic Zones of the coastal states (the SPRFMO Convention Area) from 2015 to 2024, are presented. The fishery results have been analyzed in relation to the dynamics of the stock status of Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) and oceanographic conditions. Unusual features of the fishery’s development in 2023–2024 have been noted. In 2023, despite unfavorable oceanographic conditions (the El Niño effect), the fishery situation was favorable. In 2024, while oceanographic conditions were close to normal, the fishery situation became notably more complicated. 

Pelagic fisheries in the northwest Pacific Ocean are characterized by marked variability in their fishery stocks due to the alternating dominance of several commercial species, including the Far Eastern sardine, Chub mackerel, and Pacific saury. The commercial stock of the Far Eastern sardine has grown significantly, providing a total catch of 1,36–1,38 million tons in 2023–2024, but the catch declined significantly in 2025. The status of mackerel and saury stocks is deteriorating. This may be due to the focusing of fishing efforts in waters through which juveniles of commercial species primarily migrate. To preserve stocks and the reproductive potential of these species, while adhering to previously adopted measures, additional fisheries management tools are needed to protect the immediate recruitment to the spawning stocks. These tools should be based on monitoring data on both the biological parameters of exploited populations and the functional characteristics of the pelagic ecosystem to enable medium-term forecasting of their status.

Iwashi (Far Eastern sardine) is a unique species of aquatic biological resources experiencing significant inter-decadal fluctuations in abundance and biomass. In the late 1980-s, iwashi fishing concentrations were observed off the Pacific coast of Japan and in the Sea of Japan. This allowed Soviet fishermen to reach a historically maximum catch in 1990–0,9 million tons. The appearance of significant concentrations of iwashi in the economic zone of the Russian Federation in the 2010s aſter 25 years allowed our fishermen to achieve an «explosive» increase in the catch of this fishing facility. Over the period from 2016 to 2024, the catch increased 85 times. However, the results of fishing in 2025 turned out to be completely unexpected, when, contrary to the forecast, catches decreased 10-fold. The main reason, according to the authors, was the «heat waves», which had a negative impact on the recruitment abundant of the fishery stock.

Based on the Fishery regulations of the industrial fishing of aquatic biological resources in the freshwater of Russia, the number of wintering places for fishery basins had been estimated. According to literatory data, the study of wintering places, the species and size composition of the fish population in different seasons is considered. Linkage of the number of wintering places with catches in industrial fishing and recommended fishery volumes had been analyzed. Proposals were made to improve fishery legislation in terms of the formation of protected zones on water bodies of fishery significance.

This work presents an analysis of the activities of the Russian and foreign fishing fleets within the Exclusives Economic Zones of six Northwestern African States: Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and Guinea. For the first time, data on fishing vessel activities within the EEZs of the aforementioned states have been collected not only from the Automatically Identification System, but also through directed observations. Information on the national identification and dimensions of the fishing vessels is provided. In the Northwestern African area from Mauritania to Sierra Leone, activities of 339 fishing vessels under 21 flag states were recorded. Chinese vessels accounted for almost half of the total. Vessels from Senegal, Spain, Türkiye and Mauritania constituted a considerable portion. More than half of the total number of fishing vessels were medium-sized. Small-sized vessels also made up a significant share. The high level of activity by foreign fleets within the Exclusives Economic Zones of Northwestern African States is demonstrated. This intensity justifies the need for coastal states to enhance fisheries management measures. Implementing a scientific observation system on fishing vessel operating in this area could be one of the effective fisheries management approaches. Perspectives for Russian fishing activities within the zones of Morocco, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone are presented.

The relevance of this study is due to the need to assess structural adaptation and identify new risks in one of the key export-oriented sectors of the domestic agro-industrial complex – the fisheries sector — in the context of changing geopolitical and foreign trade conditions aſter 2022. The purpose of the work is to identify the nature and assess the consequences of the structural transformation of geographical and commodity flows of fish and seafood exports from Russia caused by the introduction of foreign economic restrictions. The methodological basis of the study is a comparative dynamic analysis of statistical series for the period 2014– 2024. The results obtained indicate a profound qualitative restructuring of the export model. The key conclusion is the transition from a polycentric geographical diversification to a model with a critical dependence on the Chinese market, which has reached 50%. In parallel, the accelerated commodity transformation with an advanced the growth in the share and unit value of high-margin categories (crustaceans, fish fillets). Thus, despite successful short-term adaptation and growth in value volumes, the industry is facing new strategic risks associated with high sales concentration and increased dependence on the narrow segment of expensive products. The practical significance of this work lies in the fact that its findings indicate the need to adjust the export development strategy, focusing on restoring geographical diversification and creating conditions to overcome price and commodity dependence on a single market.

The relevance of this study lies in the fact that commercial fish farming is currently developing at an accelerated pace, and it is planned to increase the production of commercial fish from 380,6 thousand tons in 2024 to 526 thousand tons in 2028, an increase of 38,2%. This further growth in production will be accompanied by improvements in the structure of catches, an increase in the share of high-value fish species (sturgeon, whitefish, salmon, etc.), and an improvement in the quality of the fish being produced, which will contribute to increased economic efficiency. In this regard, there is a need to assess the achieved indicators of economic efficiency of commercial fish farming, identify external and internal factors affecting the level and dynamics of the most important indicators, such as labor productivity, production costs, and profit from the sale of commercial fish, which will allow us to take the necessary measures to implement or eliminate them. This is about finding in-house reserves aimed at increasing the economic efficiency of production.