Lower House approved amendments to the Federal Law "On Fishery ..."

On 21 November 2008 the Lower House (State Duma) approved a law "On introducing amendments to the Federal Law "On Fishery and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources" and into separate legislative acts of the Russian Federation", reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to the Parliament Communication Centre.

In particular, the amendments specify the terms of inshore fish, fish industry and catches of aquatic bioresources. More details are included into the article regulating manufacture of fish and other products from aquatic bioresources and a new article about fishery measures is introduced into the Federal Law.

Besides, the law makers have extended the list of grounds for coercive termination of the right for capture of aquatic bioresources classified as objects of fishery. More specifically, under the new amendments the right for capture shall be terminated if the catches are not shipped to the customs territory of the Russian Federation, and when the requirements to the technical control means have been violated.

As to the norms regulating conduct of fishery for research and control purposes, the Federal Law "On Fishery ..." stipulates that this sort of fishery shall be conducted by scientific organizations under the resource assessment programs in volumes not exceeding the size appropriate for the purpose. After the surveys the aquatic bioresources shall be returned into their natural habitat, and if their physical condition does not allow it, such bioresources shall be destroyed. Such algorithm for the research fishery has become possible due to the fact that the financial resources for the scientific research have been included into the federal budget.

As a result, the research quotas which have earlier been a financing source for the scientists shall be distributed via actions.

Article 24 of the Federal Law "On Fishery ..." is amended with the additions strengthening guarantees for the citizens as to sport and recreational fisheries.

For the sake of conservation of aquatic biological resources and their habitat the Federal Law is complimented with the norms stipulating a ban for importation to the territory of the Russian Federation of synthetic fish nets and electric fishing systems.

Taking into account the law-enforcement practice of the Federal Law No.333 amendments are introduced into the norms regulating capture of anadromous species in inland waters of the Russian Federation and in the territorial sea of the Russian Federation.

Besides, the law "On Fishery ..." is enriched with new articles on final and transitional provisions stipulating for maintenance of protective regime as to the zones with special conditions for use of territories specified before enforcement of the given Federal Law for the purposes of conservation of bioresources. The procedure of arising of the right for capture of aquatic biological resources with persons conducting fisheries to 31 December 2008 is also specified in the amended Law.