OREANDA-NEWS   The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation has extended the ban on industrial and amateur fishing in the Caspian Sea, as well as within the borders of the Astrakhan Region and Kalmykia waters until December 31, 2026.

The relevant order of the department is posted on the official portal for the publication of legal acts.

"Prohibit by December 31, 2026, commercial fishing (with the exception of permitted by-catch in accordance with the rules of fishing) and amateur fishing of roaches in the Caspian Sea, in water bodies within the borders of the Republic of Kalmykia and in the Volga River and its watercourses within the borders of the Astrakhan region," the text of the document says.

As previously reported by Astrakhan Region Governor Igor Babushkin, the catch of this fish in the Caspian Sea has decreased 60 times in 35 years. To solve the problem, the region took the initiative to Rosrybolovstvo and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation to limit amateur and industrial fishing for roaches in 2024. The proposal was supported. Later, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation decided to completely ban fishing in 2025.

In addition, according to the order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, the ban on roach fishing in seven districts of the Astrakhan region is extended until the end of next year, and the use of certain fishing gear is also prohibited.

The order will enter into force on January 1, 2026.

At the same time, a ban on pike fishing will be in effect in the Volga and its watercourses within the borders of Kalmykia and the Astrakhan Region from December 11, 2025 to February 15, 2026.