OREANDA-NEWS   Sprat has become the most popular fish in Russia for conservation, followed by tuna and mackerel by a wide margin, German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE), told RIA Novosti.

"Sprat has become the most popular raw material for the production of canned fish in Russia, followed by tuna and mackerel by a wide margin," Zverev said, citing data from the CRPT (operator of the national labeling Honest Sign).

He noted that since December 2024, mandatory labeling of canned and pasteurized products from fish, crustaceans and algae has been in effect in Russia. During this time, according to the CRPT, producers and importers have labeled 325.8 thousand tons of canned fish.

Zverev clarified that 69.12 thousand tons of canned sprat were marked. "In 2025, the catch of sprat increased by 9.4% compared to the previous year and amounted to 79.2 thousand tons," the president of the association added.
In addition, 24.3 thousand tons of tuna-based canned food were labeled, and 24.1 thousand tons of mackerel.

Almost a third of canned fish is produced in Moscow and the Moscow region - about 105.7 thousand tons of products over the past year, followed by the Kaliningrad Region - 98.6 thousand tons and the Primorsky Territory - 30.7 thousand tons.

The head of VARPE also recalled that canned food remains the best-selling type of fish products in the country, occupying a quarter of the "fish basket" of Russians.

Earlier, the organization reported that herring became the cheapest fish in the wholesale market in Russia last year, mackerel and cod also entered the top.