Source: iarex

A draft law amending the fisheries law in Russia has been introduced to the State Duma. The proposed amendments include several provisions directly related to the Arctic, specifically addressing fishing in areas covered by international agreements and fishing conducted by representatives of the indigenous small peoples of the North (ISPN).

All Arctic regions of Russia have maritime boundaries, and numerous multilateral international agreements govern activities in the northern waters. Therefore, this issue is particularly relevant for the Arctic Fisheries Management Area (AFMA) and, for similar reasons, the Far East. Sanctions have made it challenging to negotiate increases in catch quotas, leading the draft law to suggest granting Russia the authority to unilaterally raise quotas.

The proposed changes seek to allow ISPN representatives to fish freely and without charge in publicly accessible water bodies. Additionally, communities are planned to be given the same right to additional catch volumes as other fishermen in the sports, recreational, or industrial sectors. It is important to note that ISPN will not receive tax preferences and will be required to pay the same taxes and fees as other stakeholders.

The amendments to the fisheries law aim to reduce bureaucracy within the industry and create more favorable conditions for its development. It is worth mentioning that this not only contributes to diversifying the product range in stores but also results in the creation of new job opportunities, improved accessibility of fish in remote areas, and an increase in tax revenues from the activities of fishing companies.

Based on the post by TG-channel SMP

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