From October 22 to 24, VIII Global Fishery Forum & Seafood Expo Russia took place at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre in St. Petersburg.

This year, the event brought together over 20,000 industry professionals from 84 Russian regions and 81 foreign countries. The exhibitors included both key players in the fisheries sector and numerous small and medium-sized enterprises from Russia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the EAEU.

In total, more than 350 companies from across Russia and 11 foreign nations took part in the exhibition.

A Professional View on Fish Product Consumption

The central theme of the event was fish product consumption in Russia and abroad, recognized as a key driver for the fisheries sector’s development.

The extensive exhibition and rich business program provided a comprehensive look at the subject — from harvesting to marketing. Business representatives, regulators, scientists, and professional associations discussed a wide range of issues: fishing and processing, packaging and logistics, promotion and sales, innovation and automation, as well as workforce and scientific support for the industry.

Experts also focused on specific product categories — such as red caviar — and audience segments including youth and children.

All these discussions came together at the plenary session “Global Fish Consumption: Growth Drivers, Production Opportunities”, which concluded the forum and exhibition.

Participants included Dmitry Patrushev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; Ilya Shestakov, Head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries; German Zverev, President of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE); and Irina Zhachkina, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Rosselkhozbank.

Russian regions were represented by Alexander Tsybulsky (Governor of Arkhangelsk Region), Alexander Drozdenko(Governor of Leningrad Region), and Alexander Beglov (Governor of St. Petersburg).

International speakers included Nguyen Hoai Nam, Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), and Turgay Türkylmaz, Director General for Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye.

Focus on Technology and Aquaculture

The exhibition once again demonstrated the potential of every link in the value chain — from fishing to retail — emphasizing the importance of their coordinated work. Federal and regional retail chains also took an active part this year.

The specialized expositions FISH TECH GLOBAL and AQUA FARM GLOBAL were closely tied to the theme of consumption.

The logic is simple: consumer interest in fish products cannot grow without a modern fleet, efficient processing, sustainable logistics, and appealing packaging. And without aquaculture, there can be no strong additional driver for production and consumption.

FISH TECH GLOBAL showcased the full range of technological solutions for the fishing industry, while AQUA FARM GLOBAL presented a new paradigm for the development of aquaculture and mariculture — bringing together fish farmers, feed and supplement suppliers, producers of veterinary products, and manufacturers of RAS and other equipment for breeding and cultivation.

A new project — the FISH PACK competition — was launched for the first time ahead of Seafood Expo Russia. A jury composed of representatives from the Fish Union, Expo Solutions Group, and leading industry Telegram channels evaluated packaging samples selected through public voting, and the winners were awarded during the event.

In addition, numerous cooperation agreements were traditionally signed between regional authorities, businesses, scientific institutions, and financial organizations. About thirty agreements were signed in an open ceremony in the presence of the media.

The Industry Unites More Than Business

The organizers prepared not only a rich business agenda but also an engaging cultural and entertainment program. Participants and guests attended — and in some cases joined — sporting events.

At the end of the first day, the final match of the Rosrybolovstvo Sambo Cup “Five Seas” took place on site.

The next evening, the traditional industry-friendly football match was held for the second time, featuring teams of organizers and participants — “Sea Guardians” and “Fishermen’s Guard” — joined by professional footballers and former Russian national team players: Gabulov, Karyaka, Kerzhakov, Ignatiev, Igonin, and Prudnikov.

Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo Russia is organized by the Federal Agency for Fisheries with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.

The industry exhibition operator is the Expo Solutions Group.