The Estonian-Russian Intergovernmental Fisheries Commission for Lakes Peipsi, Pihkva, and Lämmijärv decided at the negotiations concerning fishing in 2003 held last week in Pskov to re-allow fishing for whitefish, increase the fishing quota of pikeperch, bream, pike, perch and roach; leave the quota for burbot at its 2002 level, and reduce the quota for smelt. According to mr. Enno Kobakene, Chief Specialist of the Fish Resources Department, the ichtyologists assessed the state of Lake Peipsi fish stock to be good. Thanks to this, the catches in 2002 exceeded the respective numbers of the earlier year. In total, the Russian side caught 5378 tons of fish from Lake Peipsi in 2002. The pikeperch catch exceeded the 2001 catch by 3.5 times; the bream catch - by 1.7 times and the smelt catch - by 2.8 times, respectively. The Estonian side caught a total of 3805 tons in 2002, exceeding the 2001 catch twofold. According to mr. Kobakene, this was partly caused by the high share of undersized pikeperch in the bycatch. The Estonian side decided to limit the bycatch of undersized pikeperch, consequently since September 19 the permissible mesh size of the Danish seine’s codend was increased (from 24 mm to 100 mm). As a result, the bycatch of undersized pikeperch decreased considerably, thus leaving the total catch of Estonia below the catch of the Russian side. The Russian side also extended its fishing prohibition period, however, for a month undersized pikeperch was caught practically withouy restrictions. According to mr. Kobakene, the whitefish stock of Lake Peipsi is still low in number; the stocks of pike and pikeperch being in very good state - consequently, the fishing quota for those species for 2003 were increased. As the average length of pikeperch is prognosed to reach 30 cm next year, it was agreed that both parties may in 2003 set the minimum permissible size of caught pikeperch at 30 cm (the current limit having been 38 cm). The permissible number of seines was left unchanged for the first half of 2003 - neither side will use Danish seine for fishing during the spring season. Further steps will be discussed at the Commission’s spring meeting. While fishing for whitefish was prohibited within 2002, fishing for it with 500 nets by each side within a specified area will be permitted regardless of the poor state of the stock. The maximum permissible catch of whitefish for 2003 is 60 tons, divided evenly (30 t each) between the Estonian and Russian side. Since the smelt catch in 2002 has been high (6500 t), the permissible catch for 2003 was reduced to 2600 tons (1300 t each side). The permissible catch of bream for 2003 is 1500 t including 900 t to be caught by the Russian side (300t of this in Lake Pihkva) and 600 t by the Estonian side. The total bream quota for 2002 was 1350 t. The permissible catch of pikeperch for 2002 was 1830 t, for 2003 - 2650 t. 1450 t of this may be caught by the Russian side (including 250 t in Lake Pihkva) and 1200 t by the Estonian side. The permissible catch of pike for 2002 was 450 t, for 2003 - 500 t. 325 t of this may be caught by the Russian side (including 150 t in Lake Pihkva) and 175 t by the Estonian side. The burbon quota was left unchanged - 100 in total, 50 t for each party. The permissible catch of perch for 2002 was 960 t, for 2003 - 1100 t. 650 t of this may be caught by the Russian side (including 200 t in Lake Pihkva) and 450 t by the Estonian side. The permissible catch of roach for 2002 was 1300 t, for 2003 - 1550 t. 1050 t of this may be caught by the Russian side (including 550 t in Lake Pihkva) and 500 t by the Estonian side. The total fishing quota of Russia at Lakes Peipsi, Pihkva, and Lämmijärv for 2003 is 5755 t, the total quota of Estonia - 4305 t. The Estonian side expressed its willingness to exchange its quota for fishing at the Baltic Sea with Russia as Estonia is interested in a higher Baltic herring quota. The Russian side agreed to investigate the possibilities and inform the Estonian side concerning the results. The Russian side, in its turn, was interested in fishing in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland and in the possibility to use Estonian ports - especially in the winter season. For additional information please contact: |
