Russia puts spotlight on value-addition and waste-free processing in seafood sector

Russia’s updated Draft Strategy 2030 for Development of Fishery Economy Complex is seeking to overcome the raw material domination of the nation’s seafood exports in favour of value-added products, according to Russia’s Federal Agency for Fisheries.

The goal will have to be achieved through much deeper processing of material and introduction of waste-free technologies practically in all fisheries.

Under the program of investment quotas industry players and FAF have made contracts in 2018 for the companies to build, in exchange for extra quota shares, 18 onshore factories and 33 vessels most of which to be equipped with onboard processing machinery. The process of investment quota distribution is still underway, November 2018 showing the third stage of investment projects’ selection. The program is aimed at renewal of up to 50% of the fleet’s capacities and higher economic yield from one metric ton of catch.

Fish processing should be focused on fillets, mince and convenience products. A switch to production of high quality APO fillets and mince is supposed to enable producers raise proceeds to 1400 USD per tonne (as compared to the current 1100-1200 USD) and in case of adding more value (fish portions, fish fingers, burgers, etc.) they can earn up to 3,500 USD per tonne.

Similar approaches can be applied in other sectors of the nation’s fishery industry in compliance with President’s challenge to double increase the export value to 8 billion USD. At the same time, providing the national market with high quality seafood at affordable prices still has the priority meaning not to be neglected while implementing the export development strategy.