The fish industry in Russia is grappling with a significant debt crisis, with a total debt of 1.04 trillion rubles, including 700 billion rubles owed to credit institutions, as per VARPE estimates. This debt has grown dramatically, nearly six and a half times since 2017, while industry profits have seen only a modest increase. The industry faces challenges, especially with the need for significant financial resources for the re-registration of fishing area contracts in 2025. Many companies are expressing concerns about their ability to meet these financial demands without the support of bank loans, exacerbating their financial vulnerabilities. The industry's woes are largely due to the 'investment quota' program aimed at stimulating renewal of fleet and processing capacity, which has resulted in a heavy reliance on loans and increased financial strain due to high interest rates.