Russia is one of the world’s leading fishing nations, with its vast coastline along the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, as well as numerous rivers and lakes, supporting a diverse and robust fishing industry. The country’s top fish catches include pollock, herring, cod, salmon, and crab, with the Sea of Okhotsk and the Barents Sea being particularly productive regions. Historically, Russian fishing has deep roots, from traditional river and lake fishing in pre-Soviet times to the industrial expansion under the Soviet Union, which established large fleets and processing facilities. Today, the Russian fishing industry remains a vital economic sector, exporting significant quantities of seafood globally and continuing to modernize its fleets and management practices to maintain sustainable yields.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska pollock(=Walleye poll.) | 1,902,465 |
| 2 | Pacific herring | 479,325 |
| 3 | Atlantic cod | 334,935 |
| 4 | Pacific sardine | 288,484 |
| 5 | Atlantic mackerel | 148,600 |
| 6 | Pink(=Humpback) salmon | 147,222 |
| 7 | Pacific cod | 135,821 |
| 8 | Blue whiting(=Poutassou) | 128,002 |
| 9 | Atlantic herring | 112,291 |
| 10 | Haddock | 82,526 |
| 11 | Flatfishes nei | 79,696 |
| 12 | Chum(=Keta=Dog) salmon | 76,259 |
| 13 | Pacific chub mackerel | 69,628 |
| 14 | Schoolmaster gonate squid | 68,167 |
| 15 | European sprat | 53,508 |
| 16 | Tanner crabs nei | 42,577 |
| 17 | Saffron cod | 42,266 |
| 18 | Jack and horse mackerels nei | 39,900 |
| 19 | Sockeye(=Red) salmon | 38,641 |
| 20 | Capelin | 36,689 |
| 21 | Black and Caspian Sea sprat | 34,823 |
| 22 | Beaked redfish | 34,038 |
| 23 | Freshwater bream | 32,718 |
| 24 | Okhotsk atka mackerel | 31,136 |
| 25 | Grenadiers, rattails nei | 30,562 |
| 26 | Chilean jack mackerel | 29,443 |
| 27 | Crucian carp | 28,463 |
| 28 | Red king crab | 27,077 |
| 29 | Northern pike | 22,442 |
| 30 | Roaches nei | 22,055 |
| 31 | Gobies nei | 21,974 |
| 32 | European anchovy | 19,513 |
| 33 | Gadiformes nei | 18,649 |
| 34 | Greenland halibut | 17,984 |
| 35 | Salmonoids nei | 17,767 |
| 36 | European perch | 17,308 |
| 37 | Queen crab | 15,847 |
| 38 | Saithe(=Pollock) | 13,617 |
| 39 | Northern prawn | 13,279 |
| 40 | European plaice | 9,796 |
| 41 | Northern wolffish | 9,786 |
| 42 | Coho(=Silver) salmon | 9,744 |
| 43 | Common carp | 9,397 |
| 44 | Yesso scallop | 9,295 |
| 45 | Orfe(=Ide) | 9,287 |
| 46 | Pike-perch | 9,151 |
| 47 | Sea urchins nei | 8,675 |
| 48 | European pilchard(=Sardine) | 7,848 |
| 49 | Blue king crab | 7,664 |
| 50 | Sea cucumbers nei | 7,419 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.