Opportunities and synergies in aquaculture between Colombia and Russia: a study of data and contexts

In developing regions such as Latin America and countries with large water resources such as Russia, aquaculture plays a key role by providing high-quality protein, creating jobs and contributing to sustainable economic development. The aim of the research is to identify common factors that improve opportunities in aquaculture in Colombia and Russia. All the studies were conducted in aspects of two countries: Colombia and Russia. The primary material was extracted from the FishStatJ FAO data base (2010–2022). In terms of production volumes, Russian aquaculture is significantly superior to Colombian, reaching 352.8 thousand tons per year in 2023, while Colombia reports 144.6 thousand tons. In the Russian Federation in 2021, the minimum production volume was 318.95 thousand tons per year, which is 33.85 thousand tons or 10.6% less than produced in 2023. The maximum volume of aquaculture production was 352.8 thousand tons in 2023. The annual increase in production in Colombia averages 3.55 thousand tons or 2.85%. The dynamics of aquaculture production in countries reflects significant differences in cultivation strategies and priority species. Colombia focuses the growth of its aquaculture on freshwater species such as tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and cacama (Piaractus brachypomus), which account for more than 70% of total production. In Russia, the emphasis is on cold water species such as sturgeon (Acipenser spp.), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and carp (Cyprinus carpio). Despite the specific differences in the main water resources of the two countries, the development of international markets and the sustainable import of manufactured products are common. A special feature of Russian sturgeon imports is the sale in the form of caviar, which is popular all over the world.