New review of Seafood Expo Russia is focusing on the largest and most popular section – catching and processing. This year's Seafood Expo Russia highlighted its largest and most prominent section, dedicated to fishery and processing. A total of 109 companies participated, showcasing a wide array of fish, seafood, and processed products.
Fish, Crabs, and Other Seafood on Display
This year, fishing enterprises from Russia and abroad occupied both pavilions at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Center. As is tradition, the main section was represented by some of the largest fishing and processing companies across the country, including NOREBO, NWFC, YKRK, Antey Group, Russian Fishery, Russian Crab Group, Gidrostroy Group, Baltic Coast, Lenin Fishing Collective Farm, Kamchatskiy Meridian, Okeanrybflot, For-Group, Pacific Fish Recorces, Russian Fish Company, Koryakmoreproduct, Tihrybcom, Tymlatsky RK, Dikiy Ulov, Murman, Murmanseld2, Magadanryba, Vostokinvest, Inarctika, the Inya Fishing Artel, Aurora+ (Nord Pilgrim), Sigma Marine Technology, as well as enterprises from the collective stand of Krairybkolkhozsouz, among other industry leaders.
Their showcases featured globally sought-after oceanic catches such as pollock, cod, haddock, herring, blue whiting, halibut, Pacific salmon, wolffish, grenadier, flounder, saffron cod, and sardines. Inland waters were also well represented with species like nelma, catfish, zander, pike, vendace, burbot, chir, and eel from the Kaliningrad region. The seafood exhibits were equally diverse, including sea urchins, whelks, sea cucumbers, squid, shrimp, mussels, oysters, scallops, and crabs of all kinds: Kamchatka, four-angled hairy, and opilio.
"This year, we’ve seen more deep-processed products displayed in convenient and visually appealing packaging. These factors are crucial for increasing fish and seafood consumption in our country, which is one of the industry's development priorities. I’d like to especially commend the regional exhibition stands, consistently supported by regional authorities year after year. These include Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Murmansk, Rostov, Novgorod, Kaliningrad, and Sakhalin regions, as well as Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, the Republic of Tatarstan, Sevastopol, and others. My thanks also go to their leaders, many of whom actively participated in the event in person,” said Ivan Fetisov.
An Increase in International Participation
Chinese companies showed the largest growth in international exhibitors. Notably, the Liaoyu Corporation debuted its booth, having attended last year’s forum and held business meetings during the program. Members of the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA) presented their products and services at a unified stand. Over 30 exhibitors from China displayed a broad range of wild and farmed fish in frozen, chilled, and ready-to-eat forms, as well as products made from Antarctic krill and seaweed.
India’s Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) also participated for the first time. Exhibitors at their collective stand offered fish and seafood varieties not commonly available or insufficiently sourced in Russia. Oman’s Fisheries Development Oman, which represents fishing, processing, and aquaculture enterprises, also showcased its offerings. Other international suppliers from Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries added to the diversity of the exhibition.
Processed Products and Innovative Samples
While many exhibitors produce fish oil and meal, these processed products took center stage for several companies. NOBI, a supplier of ingredients for the food and feed industry, and Omega-Si, a plant with a line dedicated to producing re-esterified fish oil (rTG), launched in Magadan in 2023, showcased their capabilities.
The Kapri (Biolocus) company displayed a wide range of purified fish oils for pet food, aquafeed production, the food industry, and dietary supplements. Additionally, the Arkhangelsk Algae Plant introduced products such as toothpaste, chlorophyll, cosmetics, and other goods made from White Sea algae.
Visitors to Sakhalin's stand saw supplements containing seal fat from Divia-Pharm Sakhalin, while the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) showcased experimental samples, including mussel sauces, kelp jam, and marshmallows (“MOREshmallows”) made from algae.
Catching and Processing as the Backbone of Industry Development
Despite the focus on technology and innovation in the industry, fishing and processing remain the cornerstone of the fisheries complex. They directly influence other processes, from fleet construction and equipment to logistics and sales.
Thus, these topics were discussed during events on domestic fish product consumption and sales, as well as in international forums. Business sessions with representatives from China, India, and Saudi Arabia addressed these issues, while Venezuela’s export opportunities were presented by top industry officials on September 17.
The development of fishing and processing capacities was also central to a roundtable organized with the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. For the first time, a specialized session on seaweed harvesting was held, where participants proposed creating a working group to develop the sector.
Several agreements were signed during the event, boosting cooperation between fish suppliers and retail enterprises. For example, agreements with retail chains and salmon roe producers enabled “Moscow – On the Wave” (Media-Park LLC) to introduce innovative sales strategies across its own and partner platforms.
Further details on distribution and ready-to-eat products sectors, as well as industry-leading practices in fish retail and HoReCa, will be featured in the next review.
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