Russia expects the production and export of mackerel to remain stable this year.

In recent years, the migration range of mackerel has expanded significantly, leading Russian fishermen to start catching mackerel in new areas such as parts of the waters of Japan and Norway, which are reachable for Russian trawling vessels. Previously, the Black Sea was a key area for mackerel fishing, but now the main focus of Russian fishermen has shifted primarily to the Norwegian Sea. The outlook for 2026 is concerning. Scientists predict that the population of Atlantic mackerel will continue to decline, raising concerns about the sustainability of this important fishery resource. In terms of exports, last year Russia significantly increased its supply of mackerel to foreign markets. According to data from the Russian website "Fishnews," in the first eleven months of 2025, Russia exported nearly 11,000 tons of mackerel, worth 32 million U.S. dollars. Compared to previous data, the export volume increased by 2.7 times, and the export value increased by 4.7 times. This year's plans include a significant increase in export volume and an expansion of the range of potential supply destinations. Due to severe overfishing in Europe in recent years, the price of mackerel in major international markets has continued to rise, so increasing export volume may be quite beneficial for Russian fishermen. Russia may continue to increase its imports of Atlantic mackerel.