The meeting was attended by representatives of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, the Azov-Black Sea Territorial Administration of Rosrybolovstvo, the Legislative Assembly of the Rostov Region, ministries and departments of the subjects of the Russian Federation located in the basin of the Azov and Black Seas, as well as representatives of the SSC RF "All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography" (VNIRO) and its branches, FSBI Glavrybvod", border departments of the FSB of Russia, associations of fishermen and fish producers of the Rostov region, Krasnodar Territory, Republic of Crimea, the cities of Sevastopol and the regions of the Northern Azov region, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs engaged in fishing in the Azov and Black Seas.
Andrey Yakovlev, opening the meeting, stressed that the scientific and commercial council is a platform that allows us to jointly discuss and solve problematic issues in almost all areas of fisheries. Such a collegial tool is relevant for the Azov-Black Sea fisheries basin today. All issues put up for discussion will be considered taking into account the provisions of the Strategy for the Sustainable Development of the Azov Sea region until 2040, approved in December last year by the Government of the Russian Federation. This Strategy includes measures covering all areas of the basin's fisheries, and their implementation will ensure the development of the industry in the long term.
During the council meeting, scientists, fishermen and officials discussed a wide range of issues. One of the key aspects of the meeting was the results of fishing for aquatic biological resources in 2025. Elena Zakablukova, Deputy head of the Department for the Organization and Regulation of Fisheries of the Azov-Black Sea Territorial Administration of the Federal Fisheries Agency, said that in the Sea of Azov the fishing is based on: tulka, bullheads, rapana, pilengas, crucian carp, chironomids, hamsa, mullets, flounder and shrimp. Traditionally, the basis of fishing in the Black Sea consists of hamsa, sprat, mutton, horse mackerel, mullet, flounder and shrimp. The total catch in the basin in 2025 amounted to 54 thousand tons, which is 26% higher than the catch in 2024.
Valery Luzhnyak, Head of the Aquatic Bioresources Center of the Southern Branch of VNIRO, presented data on the state of stocks of sturgeon species (Russian sturgeon, sturgeon, sterlet) in the Sea of Azov. According to scientific observations, the positive dynamics of the restoration of stocks of Russian sturgeon remains in the sea area, the biomass of which continues to grow due to an increase in the production of juveniles. Valery Anatolyevich also noted that the results of the branch's research indicate a steady trend towards an increase in the number of sterlet in the lower Don basin, the formation of a population structure of different ages and the expansion of the range of this species.
The issue of the possibility of resuming amateur walleye fishing in the Don River was considered separately.
The Scientific and Commercial Council paid special attention to the discussion of proposals for amendments to the Fishing Rules for the Azov-Black Sea Fisheries Basin. According to Andrey Yakovlev, as a result of the reunification of the subjects of Crimea, Sevastopol and the Northern Azov region with Russia, it is necessary to improve the Rules of industrial and amateur fishing in the regions of the Northern Azov region.
The ACHBNPS meeting became a platform for an open dialogue between science, fisheries and government authorities, which made it possible to identify strategic priorities in the development of the fisheries industry in the Azov-Black Sea basin.
VNIRO Press Service
