The Kamchatka Territory has adopted a long-term program for the organization of amateur fishing of Pacific salmon for the period from 2025 to 2045. The document, approved by the regional government, is aimed at increasing citizens’ access to salmon production while respecting the principles of conservation of aquatic biological resources.
The program provides for a system of organized amateur fishing of five species of Pacific salmon — pink salmon, chum salmon, sockeye salmon, coho salmon and chinook salmon — in specially designated fishing areas. Currently, 127 such sites have been formed in the region, distributed across 11 municipalities.
Salmon production volumes will be allocated based on the state of aquatic biological resources, which, according to the developers of the program, will avoid depletion of natural populations. Over the past five years, 720 to 890 tons of Pacific salmon have been allocated annually for amateur fishing in the region, while the maximum level of their development was only 540 tons.
“The purpose of the program is to expand citizens’ access to recreational fishing for Pacific salmon in the Kamchatka Territory,” the document says. At the same time, priority is given to residents of the region — preferential conditions for the purchase of vouchers are provided for them.
In 2024, residents of Kamchatka could purchase a salmon fishing permit for 500 rubles, while it cost 2,000 rubles for tourists from other regions. One voucher entitles you to catch from 10 to 20 specimens of pink salmon, from 3 to 5 specimens of chum, sockeye or coho salmon, or 1 specimen of chinook salmon. In remote localities, some fishing organizers provide vouchers to the local population at a lower price or for free.
Among the environmental initiatives of the program are the introduction of catch—and-release practices and the collection of biostatistical information on chinook salmon on the western coast of Kamchatka for scientific purposes in cooperation with the Kamchatka Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography.
The program pays special attention to infrastructure development. By 2045, it is planned to fully equip all fishing areas with the necessary facilities: access roads, boat launching sites, vehicle parking and sanitary facilities. First of all, in the period from 2025 to 2030, infrastructure will be created in socially significant fishing areas on the Avacha, Paratunka, Bolshaya, Bystrica, Opala, Kamchatka and Vorovskaya rivers.
The program also provides for the digitalization of the process of obtaining vouchers. Since 2021, the region has organized the implementation of digital vouchers through a special service on the Portal of state and municipal services of the Kamchatka Territory. Currently, the share of digital vouchers is about 30% of the total, but by 2045 it is planned to increase this figure to 100%.
The Ministry of Fisheries of the Kamchatka Territory has been appointed as the responsible executor of the program. Among the co—executors are the regional Ministry of Digital Development, local governments, the Kamchatka Salmon Amateur Fishing Association and amateur fishing organizers.
By 2029, it is planned to conclude agreements on participation in the socio-economic development of the region with all organizers of amateur fishing, as well as to ensure that payments under these agreements are received by the Fund for Support of Social Initiatives “The Future of Kamchatka” in the amount of 20 million rubles.