Russian govt allocates 33 bln rubles for scientific research in fisheries over 5 years

MOSCOW. Sept 18 (Interfax) - The Russian government has allocated 33 billion rubles over the past five years for scientific research in the field of fishery activity, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev said at the Global Fishery Forum in St. Petersburg on Friday.

"We should continue developing operational forecasting and fishing reconnaissance. The success of fishing as a whole largely depends on the accuracy and effectiveness of scientific work. Given the importance of this area, the government annually allocates significant funding for research. Over five years, [it amounted to] 33.5 billion rubles," Patrushev said.

This work is relevant because the species composition of harvested aquatic biological resources is changing for the second year in a row, due to natural factors, he said. "It is impossible to influence natural factors. Nevertheless, we must adapt the fleet and fishing gear to changing conditions," he said.

There are currently 18 research vessels operating in Russia, he said. This fleet continues to be renewed; two more vessels will be launched by 2028.

"VNIRO [the Russian Federal Research Institute Of Fisheries and Oceanography] carries out about a thousand expeditions annually, thanks to which new fishing areas are opening up for Russian fishermen. In addition, participants of the Great African Expedition returned at the beginning of 2026. Based on its results, additional opportunities for Russian fishermen to harvest various types of aquatic biological resources have already opened up. This result is an example, in particular, of the concrete practical return that dialogue between the state, science and business should provide. This area of work should therefore always be a priority," Patrushev said.

Regarding the digitalization of the industry, Patrushev said that the fishery sector needs a unified platform for collecting and analyzing information on the fishing situation, production, and forecast indicators. Data from satellite and scientific monitoring also play a special role.

"All of this, combined with accumulated information on stocks and catches, will make it possible to build higher-quality forecast models for the future. I know that such work is already underway. In the foreseeable future we should see its result," he said.