Hundreds of companies might be deprived fish quotas
Following the introduction of new Russian fish quota regulations, tens, perhaps hundreds, of fishery companies might next year be deprived their quotas, Russia’s top fishery official Andrey Krainy says. At the same time, the official is confident that the country’s total catch volume will increase.
The new Russian quota regulations to be introduced from January 2009, are based on 10-year quotas and not one-year quotas like today, newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta reports. Andrey Krainy, leader of the Russian Fishery Agency, says the new regulations will reduce the number of operating companies, perhaps with “hundreds”. His remarks came after First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov requested Mr. Krainy to “exclude all abuse corruption” from the sector. According to the new regulations, only companies which over the last four years have operated without registered violations will be allowed to get quotas. The Fishery Agency confirms that it 1557 companies have applied for the new 10-year quotas and that the records of the companies are now being studied. Mr. Krainy also admits that a major number of company representatives now approach his agency with recommendations. The lower number of companies might however not affect the catch volumes. Mr. Krainy on the contrary believes the total Russian fish catch over the next 12 years will increase with up to 20 percent.
