BarentsNews.com

The Academic Board of PINRO research institute gathered again on September 11th, 2002, to discuss the amount of kamchatka crab by-catches to be allowed in the Barents Sea fishing grounds.

The scientists have evaluated that today the Kola Bay area and the Barents Sea are home to 11 million crabs. The largest concentrations are found within the Russian Exclusive Economic Zone. Given that industrial crab fishing is still prohibited, its by-catches amounting now to tonnes disturb the Russian fishermen, making them a target of numerous claims from control bodies.

So, the question of determining the total allowable by-catch for crab has never been as acute as now. It will be raised at the next meeting of the Joint Russian - Norwegian Fisheries Commission to be held this autumn.

From the scientists’ point of view, the allowable by-catch for crab should be set at 10 items per each tonne of cod, haddock or plaice.