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Now, as the preparations for the 2nd Russian Fishermen’s Forum are at their height, things seem to be given an impulse, with a number of new proposals arriving from the Committee. In early October, the Murmansk regional administration was offered two draft regulations for consideration: one relating to the distribution of quotas for fishing within inland waters, the continental shelf and the Russian exclusive economic zone; the other concerning available biological resources to be caught in foreign fishery zones and in the areas of international fishery conventions.
The first impression is positive: the very fact that the federal fishery officials at last started to work on these vital issues seems to lend some hope for the better. But upon casting a glance at the drafts, things do not look so pleasing any more.
A skimming analysis of the two documents clearly marks the intention of the responsible authorities - namely the State Fishery Committee and the Ministry of Economic Development - to divide the spheres of influence in the use of all aquatic resources. With the lack of a well-defined state policy in fisheries, the Ministry of Economic Development has grasped the opportunity to allocate the most valuable resources through auctioning. As applied to Murmansk region, these are cod, haddock and scallop.
The 2002 total allowable catch for cod in the Russian EEZ was set at 82 000 tonnes, for haddock – 25 000 tonnes. At the same time, 62 000 tonnes of the cod quota (that is 75,6% of the TAC) and 14 000 tonnes of the haddock total (56% of the TAC) were offered for sale by auction. The rest was allowed to catch by small-sized coastal fleet only. (This restriction was cancelled not earlier than a few days ago).
It looks possible that the total allowable catch for these species in the Russian EEZ will be increased next year, making the auction quota shares reach almost 100 per cent of the TAC.
Moreover, under the new documents being developed by the government, the distribution of aquatic resources for fishing within foreign fishery zones or in the areas where international fishing conventions are applied will take place on a competitive basis, through concluding agreements with the quotas consumers. It implies, in fact, that the successful applicants for quotas will have to pay.
Given such a scenario is approved; the prospects for the Russian north-west fishery are gloomy. All available resources will go to those who can afford paying for them: what is actually to be left for the regional fisheries? Evidently nothing more than the scarce amounts remaining after the auction sales.
In Murmansk region, there will be scanty quotas for fishing cod and haddock as well as for some low-value species like capelin, polar cod, seaweeds and others. A number of coastal fishing companies and the most socially important enterprises will have a chance to obtain these tiny shares, again by means of contest. The final decision on quotas allocation will be taken by the commission of the State Fishery Committee.
Adopting these new rules may turn everything upside-down in the Russian fishing industry. The vast fishing capacities of the Russian north that has been traditionally involved in fishery are likely to become of no use any more.
Murmansk region, which accounts for about 70 % of the total catch landed in the Russian Northern basin, that is 600-700 thousand tonnes of fish and seafoods annually, may suffer the worst from the new system of quotas distribution.
It should be noticed, however, that until the Russian federal law on fishery has been passed, it doesn’t make much sense to adopt the new regulations on quotas distribution, as in many clauses they may fall into contradiction with the forthcoming law and therefore be cancelled later by the Ministry of Justice.
In view of all mentioned above, the Union of Fish Industrialists of the North has worked out a number of proposals to be addressed to the state government. In particular, the fishermen found it reasonable to put off considering the new regulations on the distribution of marine resources until the state fishery law is passed; to allow allocating the region’s fishing quotas for 2003 in accordance with the Temporary Order approved by the government of the Murmansk region.
The Union’s representatives also called on the regional authorities to hold an urgent meeting with the leaders of other north-west regions - namely Arkhangelsk region, Karelia and Nenetsky autonomous district - to determine a common position with regards to the upcoming changes.
Nevertheless, Murmansk regional executives have not expressed much interest in the fishermen’s proposals, having done practically nothing to influence the decisions taken on top. Even though they really had such a chance. All suggestions relating to the proposed rules had to be sent to Moscow before October 20th, but the regional administration actually preferred to remain aloof. This lack of involvement is obviously explained by playing some sort of a game with the federal authorities. At least, Murmansk officials will get another opportunity to condemn the central government for its brutality towards the region as soon as the threatening changes take effect.
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