BarentsNews.com

The meeting of Murmansk Fishery Council held November 1st highlighted local concerns over the exploitation of remaining cod and haddock quota shares until the year-end.

It is worth reminding that in late October the Russian government finally authorized catching cod and haddock in the Russian EEZ by means of large-capacity fleet. At the start of the current month, the remaining quota shares for these species were reported as 10 000 tonnes for haddock and 30 000 tonnes for cod. However, with less than 2 months ahead until the year-end, the mentioned amounts are likely to remain unused.

Having to find a quick solution to the underfishing problem, the Council suggested that regional fishing groups submit their proposals on re-allocation of available quotas before November 15 in order to provide their full utilization.

The shipowners that fail to take up their shares until 2003 and who do not produce the required redistribution proposals will get no fishing quotas for next year, Vadim Sokolov, deputy head of the regional fisheries committee who chaired the last Council meeting, warned.

A proposal on starting Olympic fishing for cod and haddock, once rejected by the State Fisheries Committee, was voiced again at the meeting by the coastal fish catchers and farmers’ association.