Main points
- In 2025, Ukrainian fishermen caught 44.7 thousand tons of fish and biological resources, of which 20.16 thousand tons were caught in waters outside the jurisdiction of Ukraine.
- For the first time since 2006, the Ukrainian operator resumed fishing in the northwestern Atlantic, where the catch amounted to 637 tons, and aquaculture production increased by 17.5% to 10,780 tons.
Fishing in the Atlantic / Photo Unsplash
In 2025, Ukrainian fishing enterprises caught tens of thousands of tons of fish and other aquatic bioresources, demonstrating stable work both in inland waters and in the World Ocean. The growth of aquaculture and active fishing in international waters was especially noticeable.
Ukrainian fishermen resume fishing in the northwest Atlantic
During 2025, Ukrainian fishing enterprises caught 44.7 thousand tons of fish and aquatic bioresources. The largest share – 20.16 thousand tons – was caught in waters outside the jurisdiction of Ukraine, the State Agency for Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine reported.
In particular, in the Antarctic region, Ukrainian vessels caught 19.5 thousand tons of biological resources, of which over 18.8 thousand tons were Antarctic krill. Also , for the first time since 2006, the Ukrainian operator resumed fishing in the northwestern part of the Atlantic (NAFO zone), where the catch amounted to 637 tons.
According to the head of the agency, Igor Klymenko, these results indicate the industry's ability to operate stably both in national waters and in the fishing areas of the World Ocean.
The aquaculture segment showed positive dynamics: production and sales of commercial fish increased by 17.5 percent compared to 2024 – to 10.78 thousand tons. The agency explains this by the increase in demand for Ukrainian fish in the domestic market. Special commercial fish farms provided an additional 2.26 thousand tons of biological resources.
In inland fisheries, 126 entities were engaged in fishing, which together caught almost 11.5 thousand tons. The main volume was provided by the Dnieper reservoirs – 10.2 thousand tons, which is 3 percent more than a year earlier.
From 34 hryvnias to 85 thousand: what can fishermen be punished for in February 2026?
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In Ukraine, from November 1, 2025 until the beginning of the spring-summer spawning period in 2026, fishing in wintering pits is prohibited.
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Fines for violating winter fishing rules can reach 680 hryvnias, and for illegal fishing that causes significant damage, they can be imprisoned for up to 3 years.