Russia eyes way out of fishery crisis
In the course of the last 15 years, Russian fish catch has dropped 120 percent and 68 percent of the fleet become run-down. Now, Russian fishery authorities are outlining an ambitious way out of the crisis.
Today, the Russian economy annually loses one billion USD from poaching. Meanwhile, Russians eat increasingly less fish.
Unless measures are taken, the Russian fish catch will drop further 20 percent by year 2015. In addition, the Russian population’s fish consumption will continue to decrease to less than two times lower than the recommended medical minimum level, newspaper Vedomosti reports.
Now, federal authorities might see a way out. According to a plan from the State Committee of Fisheries, a new state fishery corporation, based on the already state-owned Arkhangelsk Trawler Fleet, will be established. The first task of the new company – the Rosrybflot – will be a full scanning of available resources, the newspaper writes.
According to the State Committee’s ambitious plans, 493 new fishery vessels should be built by year 2013. In addition 14 fish terminals should be reconstructed and upgraded. As a result, Russian fish catch is to almost double from today’s 3,3 million tons to 5,9 million tons and the level of fish processing from today’s 51 percent to 82 percent.
Similarly, fish consumption per individual is to increase from 11,6 kg per year to 25 kg per year.
The State Committee of Fisheries was established late last year. It is headed by Andrey Krainy, an outspoken man with major ambitions for the sector.
