Russian President Vladimir Putin at a sturgeon breeding research center
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Fishing May Be Controlled by State
Russian Federal Fishing Agency (Rosrybolovstvo) chairman Andrey Krainy spoke before a meeting of heads of fishing enterprises in Maritime Territory yesterday. He called the newly reformed State Fishing Committee, which he is expected to be appointed to head, “a full ministry in its authorities and functions” and stated that a priority will be the formation of a state corporation to specialize in the marine bioresources industry. He noted that Russia has practically lost its ability to fish neutral waters because no fishing company has the financial means to mount a lengthy fishing expedition and only the state can return Russia to its former place on the seas.
The future state corporation has tentatively been named Rosrybflot. Krainy said it may be formed around OAO Arkhangelsk Trawler Fleet, which is 100-percent state owned. Three ports and a rescue fleet may also be included in the company. Arkhangelsk Trawler Fleet's assets are estimated to be worth $150 million. The new state company may be worth $800 million-1 billion, with taking its quotas into account. Under Krainy's plan, it will consist of 27 ships built under Russian government guarantees but currently in use by other companies. They will be based in the Russian Far East, since East Asia and Northern Europe are now the centers of the fishing industry.
Legislative reform is also necessary in the fishing industry, Krainy noted as well. The State Duma passed the first reading of amendments to the law that will allow fishing enterprises to sell their quotas at auctions among themselves. Krainy also wants the length of quota assignment extended from five to ten years, noting that the recoupment period for a large fishing vessel is seven years. Krainy can expect opposition to a number of his ideas in The State Duma.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 27, 2007
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