The Belarussian government has commissioned work on new aquacultural law, hoping the legal framework will propel growth in the promising industry.
Olga Boreisha, head of the livestock and aquacultural department of the Belarusian Agricultural Ministry, said the idea of developing the law originated from joint projects with Russia, where similar legislation is already in force.
A similar law was passed in 2023 in Kazakhstan, where it is intended to facilitate a nearly tenfold growth in production by the end of the decade.
“Our legislation has such a concept as “fish farming”, but not such as “aquaculture,” Boreisha said, explaining that this legal gap leaves farmers breeding seafood in the grey zone. Among other things, they cannot count on state aid for which fish farmers are eligible.
“The main message of the draft law’s developers is to consolidate the understanding of aquaculture in the business environment and among the population and to expand its prospects,” Boreisha added.
In general, Boreisha said that the future of Belarusian aquaculture is associated with RAS technologies.
Over the past few years, Belarus has emerged as a prominent fish feed and broodstock producer in the Eurasia Economic Union, a trade bloc of five post-Soviet countries.
Belarus exports significant quantities of trout (Salmo gairdneri) fry and broodstock of the herbivorous fish species to Russia, where aquaculture has been grappling with the impact of Western sanctions. In the meantime, Boreisha admitted that fish farming in the country has yet to unlock its potential. The country remains largely dependent on fish imports from Russia and other countries.
The work on the draft bill is scheduled to be finished by June 2025, after which it will be passed to Belarusian lawmakers for approval.
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