Russian aquaculture feed production up nearly 40% in 2023: report

Russia has made significant strides in reducing its dependency on aquaculture feed imports, with domestic production increasing by nearly 40% in 2023. The Russian Federal Fisheries Agency (Rosrybolovstvo) reported a surge in aquaculture feed output, reaching 48,000 mt in the first eleven months of 2023. This growth is attributed to collaborations between research institutes including the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) and local feed companies such as OJSC Melkombinat (Aquarex). Aquarex plans to establish a new aquaculture feed plant, projected to produce over 100,000 mt annually. Despite international feed companies withdrawing due to geopolitical tensions, Russian aquaculture firms adapted, ensuring robust production exceeding 400,000 mt in 2023, although some analysts criticise the reporting methods for including non-commercial production. (Seafood Source)