BarentsNews.com

The Economic Security Board of the Murmansk regional administration has discussed the system of forming the Regional Council for Fisheries, pointing to a more transparent scheme required in this regard.

Such a conclusion was made by the Board members at the last meeting, when a dramatic decline in the region’s total fisheries output over 9 months of the current year was reported. During January – September 2002, the regional fishing industry produced by 89.3 per cent less than in the same period last year. Prices for fish products have risen by 120 per cent. The total catch amount of large and medium-sized enterprises has fallen, reaching only 95 per cent as compared to last year.

Concerned over these distressing figures, the Economic Security Board decided to review the principles of forming the Fisheries Council, which plays an important role in the management of the regional fishing sector.

It was underlined that the mechanism of forming the Council, both in terms of number and representation of its members, must be clearly defined and totally transparent. Distribution of quotas for marine biological resources is a process that involves multiple interests, therefore the Fisheries Council membership must be composed in a way that would ensure an equal-opportunity, objectivity-based approach to regulating the sector work and managing aquatic resources.