The 2025 Pacific wild salmon fishing season in Russia's Far East region has officially begun. As a significant annual event in Russian fisheries, this year's fishing season will start from late May, with a projected total catch of 312,000 tons, marking a robust harvest year.
According to forecasts from Russia's National Research Center FGBNU VNIRO, the Kamchatka Territory will continue to maintain its core production area status, with an expected catch of 199,250 tons, accounting for over 60% of the national Pacific salmon total.
Other major production areas' projected catches are as follows:
Sakhalin Oblast: 62,190 tons
Khabarovsk Territory: 36,380 tons
Magadan Oblast: 9,840 tons
Primorsky Territory: 2,710 tons
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug: 1,320 tons
Phased Launch, Fishing Period Continuing Until Late November
The 2025 wild salmon fishing season will be launched in phases, with Primorsky Territory starting commercial fishing earliest on May 20, followed by Khabarovsk Territory on May 30, and the primary production area of Kamchatka Territory officially beginning on June 1.
The entire wild salmon fishing season is expected to continue until November 30, when the salmon migration in the Southern Kuril Islands will conclude, completing a fishing period of over six months.
Scientific Monitoring Ensures Sustainable Development
To ensure resource sustainability and ecological balance, the Federal Fishery Agency of Russia will conduct comprehensive scientific monitoring throughout the salmon season. This season will deploy multiple observation points, combining manned and unmanned aerial vehicle patrols, hydroacoustic equipment, and river bank inspections to record salmon migration numbers in real-time. Additionally, fishing gear efficiency will be assessed to track the total number of salmon entering rivers for reproduction, ensuring the population's renewal capacity remains unaffected.
These scientific monitoring measures reflect Russia's high regard for Pacific salmon resources, promoting fishery value growth while maintaining ecological responsibility and achieving a win-win between economic and environmental interests.