Pollock at the price of salmon: once cheap fish has become a delicacy in Russia

Russia finally remembered that it is washed by 14 seas and three oceans. And she pleased us with numbers: since the beginning of this year, Russians have bought twice as much fish and seafood as in the same period last year. In truth, many have long forgotten the taste of fish: the prices for it are exorbitant. But now the process of consumption, as they say, has begun. Where did our fellow citizens suddenly get money for fish products? The secret of two oceans…

– No, such prices are not for me, – a customer sighs in a specialized fish store, where the windows are bursting with various seafood. – We buy these “gifts” only on major holidays. Everywhere they say that the catch is breaking records, and prices not only do not decrease, but also grow …

Indeed, some fish “species” in their value are approaching the prices of marbled beef – it is believed that it is she who beats all price “ceilings” today.

So, in the department “piece-frozen sea fish” a kilogram of sockeye salmon costs 985 rubles, coho salmon – 690, chum salmon – 629 rubles. Even not so elite varieties scare away with their price tags: minced perch and pink salmon, respectively, 399 and 450 rubles a kilogram, mackerel 650, pollock fillet – and it is more than 400 rubles …

According to information agencies, this year Russians’ hit of consumption is frozen products. Demand for it increased by 2.3 times, for semi-finished products by 1.6 times, and for salted fish and red caviar, by 2.2 and 1.8 times, respectively.

It is clear why Russians love frozen food. It is one of the 24 socially protected products, the prices of which are “protected” by the state, like some kind of historical monument. That is, they are growing, but within reasonable, according to officials, limits ..

At the same time, it is noted that the ban until the end of 2023 on the import of fish products from unfriendly states will “have little effect” on the Russians, since we prefer domestic flounder, pollock or something else.

Among the special preferences of our fellow citizens are slightly salted trout, pollock fillets, and uncut shrimps. Also herring in oil, marinated cabbage…

According to the Federal Agency for Fishery, by August 1, Russian fishermen had caught almost 400,000 tons of salmon. Last year, the catch was much more modest, only 272,000 tons. And this year, if the Putin season continues at the same accelerated pace, then the “harvest” will be no less than 512,000 tons.

There are optimistic comments that red fish in 2023 may become more accessible to Russians. But so far, judging by the price tags in specialized stores, it has not.

According to all medical indications, it is believed that fish is much more useful for our body than meat. However, we eat an average of 77-78 kilograms of fish per year, and only 16 to 20 kilograms of fish products – for comparison, in South Korea this figure is 57 kilograms .. In our consumer basket, the share of spending on fish is only about 2% progress and dynamics in the industry are observed – but not due to consumption volumes, but due to rising prices. Over the past three years, they have risen on average from 433 rubles per kilogram to 557.

Executive Director of the Fish Association Alexander Fomin sees no objective reasons for a twofold increase in the consumption of fish products.

“Today we simply don’t catch such volumes,” he says.

– And in connection with the successful fishing season of salmon, the prices for red fish and caviar may go down?

– Here the situation is different. Putin is really good. If we catch 500,000 tons of salmon, they will produce about 20,000 tons of red caviar. And our domestic needs are about 15 thousand tons. Supply exceeds demand. This means that there are prerequisites for a reduction in the price of red caviar. Also for the reason that we practically do not export it abroad. There are no restrictions on export to other countries. Traditionally, red caviar is consumed only in Russia. Small volumes are purchased by Japan and some CIS countries.

What about varieties of red fish? What can we expect?

– It’s harder here. On the one hand, the catch is good. But red fish is an important export item and much will depend on how much it is sold abroad.