Warm Seas Hamper Abkhazia’s Anchovy Fishing Season
Warm waters hamper anchovy fishing in Abkhazia as quota remains unfulfilled.
SUKHUM / AQW’A — Abkhazia’s anchovy fishing season has been significantly impacted by unseasonably warm sea temperatures, with only 1,688 tonnes of fish caught to date, far below the 25,000-tonne quota set for the 2024–2025 autumn-winter period. Experts predict that this year’s catch will fall short of expectations due to both environmental conditions and logistical challenges.
Anchovy naturally forms shoals when water temperatures drop below 8°C, but this winter, sea temperatures have remained between 10°C and 14°C, hindering fishing activity. Currently, only five vessels are operating in Abkhazian waters, and three fish-processing plants are active. Specialists have also noted that the quality of the catch is below average, with smaller fish and a fat content under 17%, further reducing its value.
The fishing sector’s difficulties are also reflected in revenue figures. So far, the use of aquatic resources has generated 6.4 million Russian rubles (approximately $64,000), a stark contrast to the 16 million rubles ($160,000) collected by this time last year. Fishing enterprises pay 2,000 rubles ($20) per tonne of anchovy, with a 30% advance payment required under existing agreements.
Abkhazia’s fishing industry faces additional challenges due to limited operational capacity, as each enterprise is restricted to two vessels. While nine processing plants are prepared to handle larger catches, the lack of shoaling fish has left them underutilised.
Despite the difficulties, there is still some optimism. Fishing activities are permitted until 1 May 2025, leaving time for conditions to improve. Experts are monitoring environmental factors closely, hoping for a shift that could allow the industry to recover some of the lost ground. However, the path to meeting the season’s quota remains uncertain, with much depending on the weather in the weeks ahead.