The wholesale cost of pollock in the Far East increased by 59.3 percent over the year

The wholesale cost of pollock in the Far East as of September 21 reached 215 rubles per kilogram, which is 59.3 percent more than a year earlier, and the growth for the month was 10.3 percent. Kommersant reports this with reference to data from the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Natsrybresurs”.

Experts say the main reason for this dynamics is active export demand, which cannot fully satisfy even the growing catch.

Pollock is the most abundant wild fish in Russia, most of the fishery is carried out in the Far East. In total, since the beginning of the year it accounts for more than half of all production due to problems with other fish species - the total catch by Russian fishermen has decreased by 3.8 percent.

The manager of the Dobroflot Group of Companies, Alexander Efremov, explained that there are practically no negative factors for the pollock catch, and the disappearance of the Pacific sardine and the unprecedented failure of the salmon run free up fishing capacity.

At the same time, the expert called the rise in price of pollock abnormal. In his opinion, the situation was affected by the global rise in meat prices, as a result of which the whole world began to overestimate the protein basket, and this increases the attractiveness of fish.

The Fisheries Union previously cited statistics according to which exports of Russian frozen headless pollock to China increased by 25 percent in January-August, and fillets by 15 percent. In the EU country, supplies of pollock fillets increased by 16 percent in January-July.

Also, the Association of Fishing Fleet Shipowners (ASRF) explained that pollock is bought as a replacement for cod, the catch of which is now at a historical minimum due to the extremely negative fishing and biological situation.

The President of the All-Russian Association of Fishing Producers (VARPE), German Zverev, believes that, at the expense of pollock, fish farmers are trying to get out of the “economic vice” into which they have been driven by a high key rate, as well as rising fishing costs.

According to Efremov, if pollock continues to rise in price, Russians will pay attention to aquaculture pangasius and tilapia. However, he sees this result as a negative outcome, since it is difficult to combat the use of antibiotics in aquaculture.