OREANDA-NEWS  In 2023, Norway, which has been the world's largest producer of cod for many years, may cede leadership in the extraction of this resource to Russia, the All-Russian Association of Fishermen (WARPE) told RBC, citing data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The reason for the change in the positions of the world's largest cod miners is associated with a decrease in stocks of this fish. Atlantic cod stocks are in a depressed state, WARPE states: according to the FAO, in 2023 its catch may drop to a historical minimum of 1 million tons.

Norway, which last year produced more than 370 thousand tons of Atlantic cod, in 2023, the volume of catch is projected to decrease by 100 thousand tons — up to 278 thousand tons. Russian fishermen catch of this fish will also decrease, but not so noticeably — from 340 thousand to 306 thousand tons in 2023.

Atlantic cod is among the 15 main types of aquatic biological resources that are mined in the world: according to available FAO materials, in 2020, this species accounted for 2% of global production in natural volumes. The three leaders in terms of production volumes were anchovies (the share of this species was 7% of the global catch), pollock (5%) and striped tuna (4%).

A noticeable reduction in cod production by Norway will give Russia a good chance to strengthen its market influence in the white fish segment on the world market, Zverev believes. The expert recalls that this segment includes both wild white fish (in addition to cod, these are pollock and hake) and those grown in aquaculture conditions (pangasius and tilapia). In 2020, according to FAO, white fish species such as cod, hake and haddock accounted for 10% of the total value of fish products sold on the international market (salmon, trout and smelt were the leaders, accounting for 18% of world trade).