Aquaculture and fish farming in Georgia

National production was about 2,445 tonnes in 2025

Geostat’s aquaculture series records 2,445.0 tonnes of fish production in 2025, compared with 2,452.5 tonnes in 2024. Salmonidae accounted for 1,213.6 tonnes, Cyprinidae for 918.1 tonnes and sturgeon for 279.8 tonnes. These are aquaculture figures; they do not measure all wild-caught fish, imports or fish sold through Georgian retailers. [1]

The near-flat national total between 2024 and 2025 is an important part of the current market picture. Salmonidae and Cyprinidae dominate the reported farm output, with a smaller sturgeon segment. The table follows Geostat’s family categories and production measure; processing yield and retail sales are separate parts of the value chain.

Freshwater farms and marine projects have different customers and costs

A freshwater producer selling whole fish into restaurants or retail has a different business from an offshore project supplying export markets. Water conditions, feed, juvenile fish, harvesting and access to processing determine what each can produce. A cold-storage operator or feed supplier participates in that chain without owning a farm.

Marine development is moving through a separate planning and permitting process. The European Commission’s 2025 Georgia report records approval of management plans for eight marine aquaculture zones in March 2025 and a first permit issued in May 2025 for twenty years. Its production and investment numbers describe the project’s aims over time, rather than harvested fish. [2] They should not be added to Geostat’s 2025 realised production.

The marine agenda creates another group of equipment and service requirements, including cages, marine support, feed logistics and processing. These purchases follow the development of the permitted projects. The national production series remains the clearest published measure of realised farm output used here.

Fish health and traceability are active 2026 issues

FAO’s February 2026 update describes work towards extending Georgia’s National Animal Identification and Traceability System and Farm Management System to aquaculture. The work follows the 2024–2028 aquaculture strategy and involves the ministry, National Food Agency, Rural Development Agency and fish-farming representatives. FAO describes consultations and preparation of the technical basis, rather than a completed nationwide aquaculture registry. [3]

A March 2026 ministry meeting with the sector separately identified fish disease, laboratory services, specialist training, water tariffs and modern technology among the matters requiring attention. [4] These are specific constraints reported by the industry and public authorities. They make veterinary, laboratory and technical services part of the commercial picture alongside ponds and production equipment.

Traceability also connects farming with the buyer. Consignment origin, fish movements and reliable records of stock and losses matter to both the producer and the customer. FAO’s work with Georgian institutions and farmer representatives brings those practical uses into the design of the proposed aquaculture modules.

The current co-financing programme includes fish farms

The Rural Development Agency’s freshwater aquaculture and mariculture subcomponent covers new farms and expansion or modernisation of existing farms. Its published terms list support of up to 50% for an existing farm, capped at GEL 500,000, and a cap of GEL 1 million for a new farm. Special categories have separate provisions. These are limits and conditions, not a promised payment to an individual project. [5]

The agency requires the relevant registry entries and an aquaculture permit with at least ten years of validity. Its conditions also address a qualified aquaculture specialist and, where relevant, a permit for a non-native species. Annex 13 defines the eligible criteria and costs. The programme page explains that disbursement follows confirmation of the contractual obligations, including audit evidence and an agency inspection. [5]

For equipment suppliers, this matters because a grant-supported purchase has a documentary and timing framework. A machine offered to a farm is not automatically an eligible cost simply because it can be used in aquaculture. The current programme documents and the beneficiary’s agreement determine how the support applies.

Processing, distribution and farming are separate markets

Fish can reach Georgian customers fresh, chilled, frozen or as a processed product. A farm’s production weight does not describe the turnover of a distributor selling imported fish, while a processing business can use more than one source of raw material. This is why farm statistics alone cannot value the full Georgian fish and seafood market.

The wider retail market and hospitality business help identify customer types. Consistent sizes, packaging, delivery frequency and cold storage affect the product a restaurant or store can use. For a producer, those requirements can influence the harvesting and sales model. For an equipment business, they can create demand for grading, chilling, packing and handling rather than additional farm capacity alone.

Fish farming, marine projects and local suppliers

The 2025 production table, new marine permissions, 2026 health work and current co-financing terms describe four different parts of the industry. None should replace the others. Together they show an existing freshwater business, a developing marine segment and practical needs in technical support and distribution.

Read about Georgian agriculture and food processing for related producers and services. Contact our Tbilisi team for local farm, buyer and equipment-distribution research.