At negotiations with Russia, Latvia, and Lithuania held in Moscow with the purpose of dividing the block quota of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), the problem that had remained for the last decade was finally resolved. According to Mr. Lauri Vaarja, Adviser on Fisheries of the Ministry of the Environment and head of the Estonian delegation at those negotiations, the principles for dividing the block quota among the participating countries were agreed upon yesterday. According to the results, Russia will have the right to use 65.98%; and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania each 11.34% of the block quota. According to Mr. Vaarja, the decision was based on historical catches, the employment ratio of the local population in fisheries, the contribution of scientists into fisheries research, and the good will of all parties. It was of importance to divide the block quota among the four countries before the Baltic states will become members of the European Union (EU), so that each country will at accession to the EU have its individual quota. The block quota dating from the Soviet period was a joint quota for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia concerning fishing possibilities for redfish and squid at North-East Atlantic. Since 1993, continuous consultations have been held with the aim of dividing the quota among the four countries. In case Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania would not have reached mutual agreement at yesterday’s negotiations, the other NAFO member states would have joined the negotiations. NAFO’s member states include Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Denmark (which also represents the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, the European Union, France (which also represents the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon), Iceland, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, the Ukraine, and the USA. For additional information please contact: Mr. Ain Soome |
