In 2023, Russian aquaculture saw a 4.8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, with production reaching 402,000 tons. Ilya Shestakov, Head of the Federal Agency for Fishery (Rosrybolovstvo), highlighted this fact in his Science Day congratulatory message to scientific organizations. Indeed, there is much to be proud of here. Back in the 2000s in Russia, the majority of aquatic bioresources were obtained through industrial fishing, with only 150 thousand tons accounted for by the cultivation of delicious underwater inhabitants. Moreover, farmers primarily cultivated carps, which are considered inexpensive and have a low added value. These days, however, aquaculture has become one of the fastest-growing markets in Russia. This aligns with global trends — fish farming has outpaced development, IT, and consumer goods in terms of growth rate. By 2030, a record growth of 14% is anticipated, steadily surpassing the plateaued commercial fishing industry. This trend is particularly relevant for the Russian Arctic — aquaculture has firmly established itself among the ideas for new enterprises for AZRF residents, especially in the premium salmon segment.

Currently, fish farms are primarily located in the Republic of Karelia, and the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions. The dominant factors here are the climate and the availability of suitable water resources. Northern waters are ideal for growing salmon, trout, and other premium fish species — it's no coincidence that Norway is the global leader in salmon aquaculture. Russian companies often set up their production facilities on the seacoast, which should ideally be accessible for visits more frequently than just once a year by an icebreaker. There's also the matter of feed, which needs to be regularly shipped from the "mainland". For the projected growth, fish require specialized feed that can't be bought in bulk. This peculiarity almost caused the collapse of Russia's emerging aquaculture industry in 2022 — until recently, farmers preferred to buy feed from Western companies, which abruptly exited the market two years ago. However, the situation was rectified thanks to the efforts of Rosrybolovstvo and Russian entrepreneurs who quickly expanded the production of domestic fish feed. The 20% cost compensation provided to companies that decided to invest in domestic aquaculture projects was a significant help. Today, the country's leadership expects that by 2030, 90–95% of farmers' feed needs will be met.

The country is also building a talent pool for existing and future enterprises. On September 1, 2023, the Higher School of Fisheries and Marine Technologies of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (NAFU) launched a new department specializing in Aquatic Bioresources and Aquaculture. The expectation is that the demand for specialists will only increase in the coming years, forming a new extensive sector in the labor market. Aquaculture requires highly skilled workers who can not only manage the biological parameters of the underwater herd but also design, build, and develop the fish farms. New methods and products adapted for domestic conditions are being developed at the Aquaculture Development Center, established at NAFU in 2022. These include new feeds made from domestic raw materials and waste-free, deep processing of aquatic bioresources.

The successful combination of preferential regime for AZRF residents and the objective economic trend towards northern aquaculture has created a unique environment for the Russian Arctic, where new enterprises feel quite confident.  For example, Ilya Sosnov, head of Russia's largest aquaculture company Inarctica, noted in a November interview with RBC that the company expects a steady 10% growth in production volumes by the end of the year. The corporation is aiming to build a full-cycle aquaculture industry — from feed production and fry breeding to the production of the fish. The business will be supported by a focus on the domestic market, which demonstrates remarkable stability. By the end of 2023, its capacity was RUB 27 billion, with a growth of 33%, and in physical terms, it increased by 26% to 46 thousand tons.