Japanese fishermen failing to cover kelp quota 2011 in Russian EEZ

The Japanese fishermen have closed kelp fishery near the Signal Island (Lesser Kuril Ridge) with a result of 2,588.7 MT accounting for 66% of their quota 2011, reports http://www.megafishnet.com/.

The bulk of harvested kelp, namely 1,982.9 MT (56.7% of the allocated volume of 3,500 MT), has been contributed by laminaria. Along with laminaria, the Japanese vessels have also harvested 605.786 MT of wing kelp and costaria for the purposes of biological melioration.

The Japanese fishery of kelp in the Russian waters near the Signal Island has been conducted according to a protocol of negotiations between Russia's Federal Fisheries Agency and Hokkaido Fishermen's Association. Signed in April 2011 the protocol is based on an agreement dated as far back as 25 August 1981 which was signed between the Ministry of Fisheries of the USSR and Hokkaido Fishermen's Association on kelp fishery in the island's waters.