Mr. Heiki Kranich, Minister of the Environment of Estonia, today signed a regulation according to which captains of fishing vessels will need to notify the Environmental Inspectorate prior to arriving at a port for unloading their fish catch. According to expert assessments and analyses made by scientists, data concerning fishing have not always been correctly submitted, thus the regulation aims at improving the effectiveness on control measures. According to mr. Ain Soome, Head of Fish Resources Department of the Ministry of the Environment, the Environmental Inspectorate will from 2003 on be able to obtain timely information concerning the vessels, the time of their arrival at ports, and the catch of fish on board those. "After having received a prior notification concerning the arrival of a vessel at a certain port, the Inspectorate may choose to meet the vessel at the port and check the volume of fish on board the vessel," said mr. Soome. The establishment of the above regulation is based on the amendment of the Fisheries Act of spring, 2002. The regulation will enter into force on January 1, 2003. For additional information please contact: |
