The state program “Development of aquaculture (commercial fish farming) in the Russian Federation for 2015-2020” (hereinafter referred to as the State Program) determines the main directions for the development of the fisheries complex and its financial support. However, the current program does not sufficiently elaborate the forms of state support for this sphere of agricultural production, which would contribute to the accelerated development of the industry. It should also be noted that the existing potential of aquaculture in Russia is not fully utilized. The Institute of Economics of the Irkutsk State Agrarian University named after A.A. Ezhevsky, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Irkutsk Region, assessed the fulfillment of tasks of the State Program, identified factors hindering the development of aquaculture in Russia and its regions, and developed recommendations for improving the forms of state support for economic entities in the industry.

The article considers a methodological approach to determining target markets for the sale of agricultural products produced in the region, based on the proposed author's research algorithm. The research algorithm consists of four stages: determination of input and output parameters of agricultural markets, their assessment, identification of surplus of manufactured products, determination of key indicators of these products. In the course of the study, we identified a surplus (deficiency) of the main types of agricultural products produced in the region. There was an opportunity to identify factors holding back the possibility of expanding export supplies and exporting surplus products to other regions. We have tested this methodological approach in relation to the Irkutsk region and can be used in other regions.

Russia, like no other country in the world, has a huge potential for fish-farming development. According to data of different authors, in Russia from 12 to 16 million hectares of water areas of inland water bodies are suitable for fish-farming. Aquaculture farms potential in Russia is estimated at, at least, 2-3 million tons. It should be borne in mind, however, that our statistics do not take into account the so-called micro water bodies with an area of less than 1 hectare. The Department of Economics and Accounting in Agroindustrial Complex of the Irkutsk State Agrarian University in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture of the Irkutsk Region carried out a study of aquaculture production state, identified factors that hampered its development, gave recommendations on use of forms of state support for agricultural aquaculture producers. The article is devoted to the current state and problems of commercial fish-farming development in Russia, including main aquaculture objects cultivated in Russia and its potential species; volume of catching aquatic biological resources and production of aquaculture products in Russia from 2007 to 2016 and main directions of state support for this sector.

No abstract