Putin confirms high priority of nation's fishery industry on cabinet's agenda

 The appointment of the influential ex-premier Zubkov known for his business-style management looks designed to brush away the fears of the sector that the recent down-grade of State Fisheries Committee back to Federal Fisheries Agency may stall the earlier announced reform.

Meanwhile the issues at stake are quite high. To name some of the most important changes to be implemented as of 1st January 2009, they include extension of the quota share entitlement from the current five to 10 years, allocation of salmon fishing sites for 20 years and mandatory customs clearance of the catch made by the fleets in the Russian EEZ beyond the 12-mile limit, the clearance to be naturally carried out in Russian ports.

The above measures are supposed to improve investment appeal of the fishing industry as regards renewal of assets, boost domestic processing and make fishery a more responsible business in terms of stocks conservation and sustainable exploitation. The latter move should also be instrumental in reduction of illegal exports, the linked practice of price dumping by poachers and it should eventually contribute to future prosperity of the Russian fish ports.