This week, the 19th meeting of the Estonian-Russian Intergovernmental Fishery Commission began in Voore Guest House in Jõgevamaa. The main topic of discussion will be fishing management at the transboundary Lake Peipsi, Lake Lämmijärv and Lake Pihkva in the second half of the year. In addition to the main topic, other important issues will be discussed during the meeting of the Fishery Commission that is held once every six months. So, for instance, the Commission will discuss the fulfilment of the agreements of the last Commission meeting and the use of catch quotas by both countries as at the end of 2003 and beginning of the 1st quarter 2004. Besides this, an overview is given of the fish resources of Lake Peipsi and the efficiency of measures applied to regulate fishing in the first half of 2004. The two countries will also agree on fishing regulation measures for Lake Peipsi and organisation of joint supervision over fishing in the second half of this year. In 2004, Estonia’s catch quotas in Lake Peipsi, Lake Pihkva and Lake Lämmijärv are as follows: pike perch - 1300 tonnes; perch - 450 tonnes; peipsi smelt - 1000 tonnes; peipsi lavaret - 35 tonnes; bream - 600 tonnes; roach - 700 tonnes; burbot - 50 tonnes; pike - 160 tonnes. For the first time, Estonia and Russia agreed on managing the fish resources of their common lakes and determining the catch quotas in spring 1995. After that, representatives of both countries – legislative bodies, supervisory agencies, representatives of fishermen and fishery administration (the Ministry of the Environment on behalf of Estonia) – have met once every six months to agree on the next period’s fishing management and discuss the events of the previous period. Traditionally, meetings of the Fishery Commission are held alternately in Estonia and Russia, which is why the next meeting will be held in November in Russia. Further information: Monika Kopti |
