- Статьи
- Economy
- Throwing is not harmful: red caviar production in 2026 risks becoming one of the worst in 20 years
Throwing is not harmful: red caviar production in 2026 risks becoming one of the worst in 20 years
In Russia, one of the worst red caviar production figures in the last two decades is expected this year. According to Rosrybolovstvo, according to scientists' forecasts, it will amount to 227 thousand tons, which is even less than in the non-volatile 2024, when caviar production decreased to 235 thousand tons. So far, the course of the harvest shows an excess of production forecasts, however, business representatives are already noting an increase in the cost of the delicacy — in wholesale, the game has risen in price from 8 to 11 thousand rubles and up to 15 thousand rubles in retail. How the situation on the red caviar market will develop is in the Izvestia article.
Why there may be less caviar this year
This year may become one of the weakest salmon species, including caviar, and surpass the negative dynamics of 2024, which was previously recognized as the worst in the last 20 years. Izvestia was informed about the problems with mining by industry representatives, who are already recording a lag from last year's results. At the same time, Rosrybolovstvo referred to the forecasts of industry scientists, according to which the catch of salmon could amount to about 227 thousand tons. This is lower than in 2024, when about 235 thousand tons were mined.
According to the All-Russian Association of Fishermen (VARPE), the weather in 2024 has become the worst in the last 20 years. By November 19, fishermen in the Far East had managed to catch only 235.4 thousand tons of salmon. For comparison, in the period from 2005 to 2024, the average annual catch for 100 years exceeded 400 thousand tons, and in record 2018 and 2023 it reached 685 and 609 thousand tons, respectively.
So far, Rosrybolovstvo has called the catch figures in the Far East as a whole modest, but with positive dynamics in a number of areas.
"According to the operational data of the industry monitoring system, as of June 29, the catch of Pacific salmon amounted to 3.8 thousand tons, which is higher than the same indicator in 2024 (3.2 thousand tons were produced)," the agency told Izvestia.
They added that Kamchatka fishermen produced more than 2.2 thousand tons (+ 200 tons from the level of 2024). Also, high approaches of Pacific salmon and, accordingly, catches are noted in Primorsky Krai, where 750 tons were produced (caught), which is almost 7.8 times higher than in 2024 (96 tons). The positive dynamics of catches is noted in Chukotka (85.15 tons) and in the Magadan region (13.88 tons).
— At the moment, it is too early to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the mine, since not all areas are involved yet and pink salmon fishing as such has not begun. Currently, sockeye salmon from the east of Kamchatka and pink salmon in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories form the basis of the catch," the Rosrybolovstvo noted.
As explained in the department, after 2020, there is a decrease in approaches of Pacific salmon in a number of even-numbered years.
"Scientists attribute this trend to the uncertainty of ocean feeding conditions, which, in turn, are caused by climate change,— Rosrybolovstvo reported.
Fishermen are also afraid of a decrease in catches.
— According to Putin, we are lagging behind now for various reasons. Expectations are restrained, but most likely there will be fewer salmon this year," Maxim Kozlov, president of the Association of Fishing Enterprises of the Sakhalin Region, told Izvestia.
At the same time, he believes that it is too early to say 100% that the year will be bad in terms of production, since not all regions have started fishing yet.
Izvestia sent a request to the All-Russian Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters with a request to comment on the situation with the extraction of red caviar and its prices.
Should we expect a reduction in prices for red caviar
The cost of the delicacy has been growing regularly over the past few years, Alexey Rudko, founder of the Kuril Coast fish store chain, told Izvestia.
— Compared to 2025, it has already increased. Back then, a kilogram of caviar in wholesale cost 8 thousand rubles, but now the price for a new catch of the delicacy is 12 thousand rubles per 1 kg, and in retail it reaches 15 thousand rubles. At the same time, it is possible that after the completion of the harvest there will be some kind of rollback to the decline, since the first caviar is always very expensive, and the demand for it is high," the business representative said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that there are objective reasons for the increase in the cost of goods. These include rising producer costs, rising logistics costs, taxes, labeling costs, increased creditworthiness of fishing enterprises, and others.
Alexey Rudko's words are confirmed by the prices of the capital's stores. So, 500 g of fresh spawning sockeye salmon roe from Kamchatka in the Ruikra online store will cost 7.9 thousand rubles. In the Supplier store No. 1, the same packaging is offered for about 8 thousand rubles, and in the Russian Ocean — about 7 thousand rubles. Cheaper — up to 7 thousand for 500 g — the delicacy can be found on marketplaces from private sellers.
— Indeed, prices are rising, and there are many factors involved. First of all, Putin's campaign has just begun. Secondly, based on forecasts, fewer fish are expected this year than last year, while demand remains quite high," Alexander Fomin, executive director of the Association of Industrial and Commercial Enterprises of the Fish Market, told Izvestia.
According to him, despite the rising price of the delicacy, Russians will not abandon it and will not switch, for example, to pike caviar, the production volumes of which are not as high as salmon. There are more caviar of pollock or cod, but the population is not accustomed to it, and anyway, for all holidays, including New Year's, they will choose red caviar, Alexander Fomin noted.
Rosrybolovstvo told Izvestia that they are monitoring prices for the main types of fish products. With reference to data from the analytical center of the Fish Union, the agency reported that in the retail segment (year on year) pink salmon caviar fell in price by 11%, chum salmon caviar rose in price by 2%, coho salmon — by 13%, sockeye salmon — by 9%.
— At the same time, according to price monitoring data in the wholesale segment, the price for the first offers of salmon this year for pink salmon is 7,200 rubles per 1 kg, sockeye salmon — 8,900 rubles per 1 kg, chum salmon - 7,500 rubles.
At the time of writing, Rosstat had not yet published statistics on the latest data on the cost of the new Putin's delicacy, which was launched in Russia in early June. At the same time, according to the service, as of May, a kilogram of red caviar in retail cost 10,021 rubles, and in the same month of 2025 - 10,012 rubles. A big jump in price growth, according to statistics, occurred from the non-volatile year 2024 to 2025: two years ago, the cost of the delicacy was another 5,795 rubles per kg.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
