Kazakhstan boost fish catch 61% in 2025

ASTANA. Jan 14 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan boosted its fish catch 61.3% to 72.900 tonnes in 2025, from 45,200 tonnes in 2024, the Agriculture Ministry's Fishery Committee told Interfax.

Farmed fish production reached 26,300 tonnes in 2025, a 44.5% increase compared with 18,200 tonnes a year earlier.

Kazakhstan produced 99,500 tonnes of finished fish products in 2025, up 56.9% from 63,400 tonnes a year earlier.

In the first 10 months of 2025, Kazakhstan exported 15,100 tonnes of fish products, mainly to Russia, the Netherlands, Lithuania, China, Denmark, Germany and Poland. Imports over the same period totaled 43,100 tonnes, with supplies coming primarily from Russia, Chile, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Poland.

Commercial fishing is concentrated mainly in the Atyrau, Kyzylorda, Almaty and East Kazakhstan regions. More than 700 fishing enterprises operate nationwide, employing about 12,000 fishermen.

Kazakhstan has 72 fish processing plants with a combined annual capacity of 120,000 tonnes. Of these, 20 are authorized to export to European Union countries.