In Ukraine, over 18 thousand tons of fish and bioresources were caught in 2025

From January to April 2025, the fishery enterprises of Ukraine reported a catch of 18,265 tons of fish and other aquatic bioresources. This data was provided by the State Agency of Ukraine for Melioration, Fisheries, and Food Programs.

This is reported by AgroReview

Catches in International and Domestic Waters

A significant portion of the total catch was provided by Ukrainian vessels flying the national flag, operating in the area of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Since the beginning of the year, 16,111 tons of Antarctic krill—a marine crustacean widely used in the food industry and serves as raw material for the production of animal feed and food additives—have been harvested in these waters.

In the waters of Ukraine, the catch amounted to 1,296 tons. In particular, the largest volumes were recorded in the Dnieper reservoirs—907 tons. In the lower reaches of the Dniester River, along with lakes, the Turunchuk River, and the Dniester Estuary, 222 tons were caught, while 92 tons were caught in the Danube River. Additionally, 58 tons were extracted in the Dnipro-Buh estuarine system, 9 tons in the Tiligul Estuary, 4 tons in the Berezan Estuary, and another 4 tons in other water bodies of the country.

Main Species of Caught Fish and the Impact of War

The industrial catch in Ukraine’s inland waters primarily consisted of silver crucian carp (581 tons), bream (292 tons), Black Sea sprat (98 tons), roach (82 tons), and flounder (65 tons).

Due to Russian military aggression, fishing in the Black and Azov Seas remains blocked.

Specialized commercial fish farms that combine elements of aquaculture and industrial fishing have been noted separately. In the first four months of the year, these farms provided a catch of 518 tons of fish and bioresources. According to estimates, aquaculture enterprises additionally caught another 340 tons of marketable fish.

“Overall, the fish catch in the first four months of 2025 amounted to over 18 thousand tons, reflecting the active work of both the fleet in international waters and fishermen in domestic waters, despite wartime restrictions.”

Thus, the domestic fishery sector demonstrates resilience and the ability to renew production even in the face of wartime challenges.