Russian Tuna Firm Prepares First Tuna Exports To China

Sakhalin-based tuna fishing company Express is preparing to export its products to international markets, starting with China, as Russia’s Far East opens up to commercial bluefin fishing. Russia’s Sakhalin Region established official industrial bluefin catch quota for the first time in 2026, creating new opportunities for the area’s fishing industry. The regional Export Support Center, which helps businesses enter overseas markets, is working with Express on its export plans. The company has yet to disclose the volume of its first shipment.

The move follows a northward shift of large bluefin schools into the East Sakhalin subzone, prompting Russian fisheries authorities to authorise commercial fishing in the region for the first time in modern history this year. The subzone’s 2026 quota was set at 30 tons, including an allocation for Express, according to Russian news sites. Evgeny Valko, CEO of the company, attributed the increase in tuna numbers in local waters to climate change. “We are currently seeing an increase in their numbers in our waters. This is a favorable situation for the development of the region’s fishing industry,” he said.