Аннотация:This review includes information on and analysis of the present condition of Russian inland waterbodies, fish diversity and distribution and fishery pressure and its consequences. The country and its local conditions (e.g. existence of unique ecosystems such as Baikal Lake and the Caspian Sea, large river habitat reconstruction, poor catch statistics, high level
of mis‐management, overfishing of valuable species of fishes and illegal fishing) are discussed. The review summarizes data on the legal catches of commercially important species from main Russian basins in recent years. Research on and the methods used for stock assessment are also briefly discussed. Special consideration is given to the biological invasion of alien species and the effect of fisheries on fish diversification. Approaches to the wise use of fish stocks and their conservation are proposed.