Russia and Kyrgyzstan Discuss Fisheries Cooperation: Kyrgyz Side Seeks Annual Fishing Quota in Russian EEZ

Russia and Kyrgyzstan are negotiating a fisheries cooperation plan. On November 5, 2026, the two sides held talks in Moscow, with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev attending for Russia and Deputy Prime Minister Elist Akunbekov attending for Kyrgyzstan. According to the press service of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, the agenda included providing Kyrgyzstan with an annual quota for harvesting aquatic biological resources in the Russian exclusive economic zone, establishing joint fisheries enterprises, and developing aquaculture projects in Kyrgyzstan.

At the talks, Akunbekov said Kyrgyzstan highly values Russia's experience and capabilities in the fisheries sector and is interested in implementing joint projects. He noted that establishing a stable domestic feed base is important for Kyrgyzstan, and expressed the hope that Russia would support the issue of providing the Kyrgyz Republic with an annual quota for harvesting aquatic biological resources in the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation.

The talks reviewed two joint projects. The first is the establishment of a Russian-Kyrgyz joint venture engaged in the harvesting and processing of aquatic biological resources, with planned catch volumes of up to 78,000 tonnes per year. The second is the development of aquaculture in Kyrgyzstan, with specific targets including raising fish product output to 60,000 tonnes by 2035 and creating up to 1,500 jobs.

According to the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers' press service, Patrushev described the negotiations as substantive and constructive, and expressed interest in implementing joint projects in the fisheries sector and willingness to further cooperate. According to him, the implementation of joint projects will help establish new production capacity and expand the scope for mutual trade in fish products.

Separately, according to the December 2025 import and export statistics of the General Administration of Customs of China, under the customs commodity classification (HS 03036700 frozen Alaska pollock, 03047500 frozen Alaska pollock fillets, 03049400 frozen Alaska pollock meat), Russia's exports under the relevant tariff codes that month totaled 161.772 tonnes, with an export value of USD 407,031.0 and an average export price of USD 2,516.08 per tonne.