Russian fish processors turn to domestic resource base
 

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Because of the food embargo, fish processing companies of 
the Russian North-West have to replace the fish from 
Norway, Finland and Baltic states by that from Russia and 
countries not subject to sanctions.

 Several dozens of fish processing companies located in the 
Russian Northwestern Federal District are 10 to 100 percent 
dependent on fish supply from abroad. Now they take every 
possible measure to avoid drastic cuts in production and to 
minimize their losses.

 

Thus, the companies from the Murmansk region that were 
engaged in processing of Norwegian salmon are trying to 
reorient their production to Far East pink and sockeye 
salmon. However, they face significant problems. First, the 
logistics chain "Far East - Murmansk region" is longer and 
more expensive than the chain "Norway - Murmansk region". 
Secondly, the Far East fish has been long contracted, and 
not all traders are willing to give up their existing 
business connections in favor of new partners. Third, 
although sockeye salmon and Norwegian salmon are "close 
relatives", they are not the same species. Therefore, the 
reconstruction of the production lines can not be avoided.