Since the number of predatory fish – perch and pikeperch – is quite high in Lake Peipus, there is a lack of smelt, which serves as the main source of food for perch and pikeperch. As a result, based on the recommendations of scientists from both countries, the catch of predatory fish can be increased. The intergovernmental commission on fishing agreed that from 1 September to 15 November, a bottom trawl may be used on Lake Peipus, the minimum mesh size of which is 48 mm. One type of fishing gear may be used for fishing for a maximum of 40 fishing days. Entangling nets may also be used beginning on 1 September. However, once fishing quotas have been reached, fishing is to stop. Since in the fall many small pikeperch from the strong generation of 2009 end up in fishing gear and cannot be freed alive, it was agreed that from 1 September to 15 November fine mesh fishing gear may be used to catch pikeperch with a permitted minimum of 30 cm. The Commission also decided that Estonian fishermen may catch 700 tonnes of pike-perch in 2011. That is 100 tons more than the maximum allowed catch agreed upon at the end of last year. “Thanks to the reduction in the permitted minimum of pike-perch and the increase in the fishing quota, fishermen are able to catch using active fishing gear in order to catch the over represented perch; therefore, the fall season will be extended by a significant period,” stated Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment Andres Talijärv, head of the Estonian delegation. “That is also the recommendation of scientists, since otherwise the perch may begin to seriously inhibit other species of fish in Lakes Peipus, Lämmijärv and Pskov”. Members of the Estonian as well as the Russian delegation were concerned about illegal fishing on Lakes Peipus, Lämmijärv and Pskov. Their unanimous decision was that one opportunity for reducing illegal fishing was the joint supervision of industrial fishing and the collection of efficient catch data. It was decided that joint control raids would also continue in the fall of 2011. Opportunities are being sought for next fall to equip the ships of both countries using bottom trawls with satellite monitoring systems. |
