BarentsNews.com

During the first six months of the current year Russia’s fishing sector demonstrated a lower level of performance in comparison with the same period of 2001. Total catches of marine biological resources across the country fell by 12 percent as compared with the previous year, having amounted to 1 616 000 tonnes.

These results were announced at the meeting of the State Fisheries Committee’s Board which was held in Moscow on September 3, 2002. Three persons represented the Murmansk region at the meeting: one from the regional administration, the other two respectively from Murmanrybvod and PINRO research institute.

It should be mentioned, however, that the volume of catches within the Northern basin remained on the same level. The blame for the poor results actually falls on the Far East, a region which has lately been strongly associated with ineffectiveness and never-ending disputes of all kinds. Given that Evgeny Nazdratenko, which had previously governed the Far East’s Primorsky region, currently heads the State Fisheries Committee, it will be no wonder if the fishing industry gets into still more trouble.

Meanwhile, the fishing sector accounts for 16 percent of the Murmansk region’s economy, meaning that many people’s lives here are directly connected with situation in fishing.