The next meeting of the Volga-Caspian Scientific and Industrial Council was held in Astrakhan

 

Representatives of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, the Volga-Caspian, North Caspian, and Volga-Kama Territorial Administrations of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, the Federal Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia, executive authorities of the Astrakhan Region, the Republics of Dagestan and Kalmykia, the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) and its branches, branches of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Glavrybvod, heads of fishing enterprises and associations, members of the Astrakhan Region Tourism League, and other guests participated in the event.

 

The meeting addressed a number of issues relevant to the fisheries sector in the Volga-Caspian basin. One of the central topics was the water management situation and the results of natural fish reproduction in 2025. Initial water management forecasts predicted a runoff volume of 55-60 km³ for the second quarter of the year. Over the next two months, the runoff volume was reduced to 73 km³. The duration of the fisheries flood reached 37 days, significantly exceeding the initial forecast of 20 days, thanks to the extensive efforts of the Federal Agency for Fisheries and the Astrakhan Region. The magnitude and characteristics of the flood did not ensure the necessary conditions for the natural reproduction of aquatic biological resources. Science has been tasked with continuing to study the water management situation and the natural reproduction of aquatic biological resources in 2026.

 

Scientists presented their traditional report on the status of stocks and catches of key semi-anadromous and riverine fish in the Astrakhan Region in 2025. The report focused on both aquatic biological resource species that benefit from current environmental conditions and are increasing in abundance, as well as species whose under-exploitation, despite healthy stocks, is due to low consumer demand.

 

The complete ban on Caspian roach fishing, introduced in 2025, had a positive impact on the natural reproduction of this species. Thanks to this measure, large numbers of fish were able to migrate upstream to spawn. Research by the Volga-Caspian Branch of the Russian State Research Center of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) also showed improvements in the biological characteristics of Caspian roach spawners.

 

A report was also presented on the status of Caspian sprat stocks and fisheries, as well as factors influencing sprat populations in the modern era, including the state of the food supply, the introduction of invasive species, shallowing of the sea, and climate change. Since 2021, Russia has been the leader in sprat harvesting in the Caspian Sea. In 2025, the catch of common sprat using midwater trawls in the first three months of the year reached 20.9 thousand tons, 1.1 times higher than the same period in 2024. The daily catch in 2025 was also encouraging, reaching almost 30 tons, exceeding the 2024 figure by 5 tons. In the fall, the common sprat fishery resumed, and over 19 days in November, Russian fishermen caught almost 1,000 tons, exceeding the catch for the entire month of November 2024.

 

The issue of changing the boundaries of the Volga pre-estuary closed area was again raised, becoming particularly relevant given the falling water level of the Caspian Sea and the retreat of its coastline. The results of the joint work to update the boundaries of the Volga pre-estuary closed area were presented, and new proposals were presented.

 

Proposals for amendments to fishing regulations for the Volga-Caspian fishery basin, issues of transporting and receiving aquatic biological resource catches, and other relevant industry issues were considered.

 

 

VNIRO Press Service