Vladivostok's Winter Smelt: Scarcity and Market Prices

The ice fishing season in Primorye has been disappointing this year, with local smelt and saffron cod nearly absent from the waters. Fishermen are catching mostly herring, but the prized fresh catch with a cucumber aroma remains elusive.

Feb 6, 2026

Sakhalin Island has supplied fish to Vladivostok markets amid the local shortage.
Source:
Elena Buivol / VLADIVOSTOK1.RU

The traditional ice fishing season in Primorye has been modest this year: smelt and saffron cod — the main winter trophies for ice fishing enthusiasts — are almost absent from local waters. Desperate fishermen are catching mostly herring, but the fresh catch with a cucumber aroma remains just a dream.

Vendors at Vladivostok markets are selling imported fish due to the absence of local catch.
Source:
Elena Buivol / VLADIVOSTOK1.RU

VLADIVOSTOK1.RU correspondents visited markets and stores in Vladivostok to find out if it«s possible to find the symbol of winter fishing and at what price.

Shoppers browse seafood options at a supermarket in Vladivostok during the winter season.
Source:
Elena Buivol / VLADIVOSTOK1.RU

Note right away: there are no spontaneous trading points with fresh smelt, as in previous years — not on Sportivnaya Embankment, nor at the former tram ring, nor at Balyaeva Market. On legal markets, the sought-after fish is available, but mostly imported from across the sea, more precisely — from the Tatar Strait.

Vendors at the market on Sportivnaya Street offer freshly frozen smelt from the 2026 ice fishing season for 650 rubles (about $7 at current rates) per kilogram. The sign says: fresh catch, Sakhalin, very tasty. Here, one can also buy Sakhalin fresh-frozen toothfish from this year«s catch for 1000 rubles (about $10 at current rates) per kilogram.

At the market on Lugovaya Square, they sell Sakhalin smelt for 590 rubles (about $6 at current rates) per kilogram. Also, frozen toothfish is available here for 950 rubles (about $10 at current rates) per kilogram. It comes with a note: «very tasty.» Saffron cod, brought from the island, costs 220 rubles (about $2 at current rates) per kilogram, and pike-perch — 350 rubles (about $4 at current rates) for the same weight.

At Balyaeva Market, there is no smelt at all. Here, they offer chilled toothfish for 995 rubles (about $10 at current rates) per kilogram, with its origin not specified.

In Vladivostok supermarkets, smelt is almost nonexistent: only in the «Remy» chain can one find fresh fish on ice next to salmon steaks for 900 rubles (about $9 at current rates) per kilogram, with no catch location indicated.

Thus, there is no local smelt this season in Vladivostok. The greatest selection is on Sportivnaya, but to treat themselves to a genuine winter catch, enthusiasts of toothfish and pike-perch will have to splurge.

Earlier, we found out where the smelt disappeared from Vladivostok«s waters. Alexander Olifirenko, director of the ANO »Center for Environmental Initiatives,« explained that this is related to the natural life cycles of seasonal fish and the population of short-lived marine species, as well as climate warming. Read more via the link.