First Auctions for Industrial Fishing Rights on the Danube to Take Place in the Coming Days: Starting Prices Announced

On 8 December, the State Agency for Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine published the first announcements in the electronic system Prozorro.Sales regarding the auctions for industrial fishing rights for 2026. The agency reported the development on its official Facebook page, as cited by Pivden Sohodni.

The auctions are scheduled for 18 December, with bids accepted until 20:00 on 17 December.

 Danube Lots: Starting Prices and Allowed Catch Volumes.

Among the published auction lots, 10 relate to industrial fishing in the Ukrainian section of the Danube River. The proposed quotas and starting prices are as follows:

-       2 lots of 26.279 tonnes — starting price UAH 114,412.78

-       4 lots of 43.053 tonnes — starting price UAH 196,036.03

-       3 lots of 51.925 tonnes — starting price UAH 235,223.06

-       1 lot of 79.941 tonnes — starting price UAH 386,383.16

In total, 16 lots have been formed for the Danube for 2026. This is the first year in which the auction process is launched before the end of the calendar year, potentially avoiding delays in the start of the fishing season.

According to preliminary estimates, fishing enterprises in Vylkove and Kiliia will be able to begin the season no earlier than mid-January 2026.

In recent years, Ukrainian fishermen faced bureaucratic delays, often beginning the season significantly later than their Romanian counterparts—who were already actively harvesting Danube herring in February. This created unequal market conditions and contributed to an increase in illegal catches: last year, all Danube fish appearing in Odesa region shops before 1 March had been caught unlawfully.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research

The Institute of Danube Research welcomes Ukraine’s gradual shift to a transparent and competitive mechanism for allocating fishing rights via Prozorro.Sales.

Earlier auctions reduce administrative delays, allowing Ukrainian fishermen to enter the water more synchronously with Romania, which supports fair access to shared resources.

A market-based system with clear quotas and open bidding reduces incentives for shadow operations, particularly during high-demand periods for Danube herring.

Digital tools, open auctions and science-based quota planning bring Ukraine closer to European standards.

Coordinating fishing calendars, joint stock assessments, and measures for protecting migratory species—especially during spawning periods—should become key priorities.

Transparent auctions are an essential foundation for rebuilding trust between the state and the fishing communities of the Lower Danube. To achieve long-term sustainability, Ukraine must reinforce scientific monitoring, intensify cooperation with Romania, and strengthen enforcement against illegal fishing. Only such a systemic approach can ensure the sustainable use of Danube aquatic resources.