Bringing Caviar Back to Russia: Putin Discusses Plans to Expand Domestic Sea Catch Markets

Caviar was one of the main subjects which Vladimir Putin discussed today with the head of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency.

Caviar was one of the main subjects which Vladimir Putin discussed today with the head of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency. Ilya Shestakov told the president about the year's records. Pink salmon has become the most profitable fish for the industry. This success is going to be replicated. A whole new fleet is being built in order to do so. The catch will be sold on the domestic exchange instead of foreign fishing auctions.

See more on Alexander Balitsky's report.

 

"Here's caviar from Chinook, chum, and coho salmon".

Caviar is a symbol New Year's, like tangerines and Christmas trees. It's very popular. It's big, robust, soft, fresh.

"Wonderful taste. A little bit of bitterness. It's blueback".

This pre-New Year abundance of fish and caviar is a result of the largest catch in the last 25 years. The head of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency reported to the president. The yield is over 5 million tons.

Ilya Shestakov: Last time we had a catch of 5 million tons was in 1992. Since then, we haven’t had such indicators until now. All of this is due to the supportive measures and regulatory controls we have now. The main share was due to the 2018 salmon fishing season.

Vladimir Putin: It wasn't usual, was it?

Ilya Shestakov: It's the largest in recorded history.

- Where did the red caviar go to?

- The red caviar will be supplied to the domestic market. It's reasonably priced now, by the way.

True, such a fishing season is a piece of luck. It doesn’t happen every year. That's why special attention is paid to aquaculture and aquafarming.

Vladimir Putin: What special value do we have?

Ilya Shestakov: There are sea cucumbers, which are popular on the Asian market. In coastal cities, oysters and sea scallops are popular.

- What about Crimea?

- In Crimea, there are oysters and mussels.

"An oyster and a mussel, like brother and sister".

The method taken from the Mediterranean Sea is widely used in the Black Sea. Both the inhabitants and guests of Crimea enjoy tender sea delicacies.

"I had 50 oysters delivered in the morning. It's noon and only four of them are left".

The only problem aquafarmers face is the alignment of ground and water areas. The procedure is going to be simplified. The Agency has some proposals on how to make seafood more affordable for Russians and how to conquer foreign markets.

Ilya Shestakov: "Now seafood is popular and sells well at the Asian fish auctions. We want to put it under Russian jurisdiction and oblige the companies to sell part of their produce in the Russian fish auction. To do so, we need the relevant infrastructure".

The new infrastructure is, first of all, powerful cooling units. Here are the shops that were recently opened in Murmansk Oblast.

"What has been done for sea farmers is just fantastic".

The investment program provides for the building of 22 shore-based factories and 33 fishing craft which perform the function of floating processing factories.

Ilya Shestakov: Another ship is going to be launched in March.

Vladimir Putin: Is it big?

- 280 feet long. Those are quite serious vessels with full-cycle processing.

Russian fishers have ambitious plans concerning not only fish. In order to prepare successors and tell the world about Russia's success, they're preparing for a global cruise on the tall ship Pallada. Cadets of fishing and nautical schools from all over the country will travel 37,000 nautical miles over 7 months. The expedition will be dedicated to the bicentenary of the discovery of Antarctica by Russians and the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Great Patriotic War.

Alexander Balitsky, Natalia Lundovskaya, Vesti.