Russian pollock producer invests $30 million in new processing plants

The two plants, located in the far eastern Kuril islands, were built as part of the state investment quota program.

Iturup, an island in the Kuril archipelago in far eastern Russia, is the site of one of Gidrostroy's new pollock processing plants. The photo is not directly related to the story.
Iturup, an island in the Kuril archipelago in far eastern Russia, is the site of one of Gidrostroy's new pollock processing plants. The photo is not directly related to the story.Photo: Shutterstock

Gidrostroy, one of Russia’s largest pollock producers, has completed a RUB 3.2 billion (€29 million/$30 million) investment in the construction of two processing plants in the far eastern Kuril islands chain, according to the country’s federal fisheries agency.

The two plants, constructed last year as part of Russia's state investment quota program, are intended to produce at least 100 tons of fillets and minced pollock daily, along with a minimum of 20 tons of fishmeal and fish oil derived from waste, according to a statement from Russian fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo on Jan. 6.

Both plants are located in the Kuril islands, a volcanic archipelago to the north of Japan that forms part of the Russian province of Sakhalin. The chain’s southernmost islands, including Iturup and Shikotan, where the processing plants are located, are subject to a long-running territorial dispute with Japan.

Rosrybolovstvo said in the statement that, in total, 27 state-of-the-art processing factories have been built in Russia under the investment quota program, through which fishing quotas are awarded in return for commitments to invest in processing capacity or new vessels.

Pollock is Russia’s main commercial fisheries resource, accounting for around 35 percent of the country’s total annual catch. Russia has effectively set a total 2025 pollock quota of 2.38 million metric tons for 2025, compared with 2.29 million metric tons for the 2024 season.
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Published 9 January 2025, 15:51Updated 9 January 2025, 15:52
RussiaRussian pollockGidrostroyRosrybolovstvoRussia Investment Quotas