| The Russian President was looking for an answer to the fish question Yesterday, Vladimir Putin not only checked the defense capability of the Russian army, but also became concerned with the problem of providing Russians with high-quality fish products. To better familiarize himself with the issue, the Russian president not only talked with Primorye Governor Sergei Darkin and representatives of the fishing industry about the development and increasing the competitiveness of the Russian fishing industry on the Archer trawler, but also visited the Institute of Marine Biology in Vladivostok.
The Russian president did not hide his concern about the state of the fishing industry in the country and was, as always, strict but fair. The head of state noted that “the fishing industry in Russia has a pronounced export orientation,” and “80% of fish products are sold abroad outside the framework of customs control.” As a result, it turns out that Russia “sells raw materials cheaply and buys at high prices the goods that consumers need.”
Over the past two or three years, in the fishing industry, according to Mr. Putin, certain positive changes have appeared, but they “are happening very slowly and unnoticed by consumers of fish products.” Last year, for example, fish production in the Primorsky Territory decreased by 27%, and in Kamchatka by 30%. Two-thirds of the region's fishing enterprises, according to the president, are in a difficult financial situation, which is “unacceptable.”
The head of state believes that for the successful development of processing of fish products, it is necessary to fight “high administrative barriers, uncompetitiveness of port facilities and high tariffs.”
The President called for a quicker determination of the principles for obtaining fishing quotas. Let us remind you that on January 1 of this year, a new procedure for distributing quotas for catching biological resources came into effect. The previous combined system of free quotas, which were distributed by fisheries councils under governors, and quotas purchased at auction, was replaced by a single procedure. Quotas are distributed according to the “historical principle” (the arithmetic average of the region’s quota for the last three years is taken and automatically extended for five years). But these quotas can be taken away for certain violations. According to the head of state, a secondary market for the redistribution of quotas should be formed, however, it has not yet been fully decided what it will be like. This should be included in the new fisheries bill.
Heading the working group of the State Council Presidium that dealt with the problems of the fishing industry, Primorye Governor Sergei Darkin said that a project to modernize the industry, the implementation of which will help bring it out of the crisis, is already ready. According to him, within a month a bill on fisheries, as well as a number of other legal acts, will be submitted to the government. Mr. Darkin noted that it is necessary to certify the Russian fishing industry according to European standards. Without this, we will continue to export raw materials rather than finished products. The Primorsky governor strongly advocated that all biological resources extracted in the economic zone of Russia be accounted for in Russian ports.
In order for all the positive changes to happen as quickly as possible, the president proposed changing the “business conditions.” For example, he invited representatives of the fishing industry and border guards to think together about how to improve interdepartmental relations. “There may be changes, but in such a way as not to harm either the fish or the protection of the state border,” the president noted.
However, the main reserve for solving industry problems lies, according to the head of state, “in the organization of work.” “If we can consistently implement what has been said here, I am absolutely confident that the industry will turn from potentially rich to truly rich. Impulses will be given along all lines,” the president said. Then Russians’ tables will be filled with fish and seafood, and exports will bring income not only to the fishing mafia, but also to the state treasury. Dmitry CHERNOV, Vladivostok |
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