BarentsNews.com

39 enterprises involved in fish processing in the Murmansk region have applied for obtaining special quotas, as the regional committee for fisheries informed.

To keep the regional fish industry working, the companies have requested 198 407 tonnes of raw material, including cod, haddock, capelin, herring, blue whiting, mackerel, Polar cod, saithe, halibut and catfish.

However, it is up to the State Fisheries Committee to decide on allocating special quotas, and the regional administration is legally unable to meet the demands of its fish-processing sector.

As a temporary alternative, Murmansk processors are recommended to buy fish from Norway. The recently established joint venture Gigante – Murmansk working with Norwegian fish supplies is referred to as a good example. Moreover, the prices offered by Norwegians are much lower than those fixed by local fish-catchers.

Since the start of this month, Norwegian fish supplies to Russia have totalled 440 tonnes, with about 150 tonnes purchased by Murmansk processing and trading firms.

This week, another fish cargo from Norway is expected in Murmansk. It will be 100 tonnes of herring to be frozen at the Murmansk Fish Processing Plant.