3.2 



RUSSIAN FEDERATION 



Following the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in December 

 1991, the Russian Federation (Russia) was internationally recognized as the Soviet Union's 

 successor state. Russia has not only retained the bulk of the Soviet fishing and fishery support 

 fleet and at least one major port on all of the bodies of water bordering on the former USSR; 

 it also has a substantial 200-mile exclusive economic zone containing some of the most prolific 

 fishing grounds in the world. In addition, Russia inherited the extensive diplomatic and 

 technical support network created by the Soviets to maintain their fishing operations abroad. 

 Nonetheless, Russia's fishing industry has encountered many new and old difficulties since the 

 country became independent. The industry has had to adjust to changes in the government's 

 fisheries administration, economic reforms introducing a market economy, and the drive for 

 privatization. A major problem is the Federation's current inability to provide its fishing fleet 

 regularly with sufficient diesel fuel. The average age of the Russian fishing fleet is 15 years; 

 fishery support vessels are even older. The future of the Russian high-seas fleet will depend on 

 its ability to obtain the necessary fishery resources to maintain efficient operations. The export 

 of fishery products to earn hard currencies with which to modernize and replace the fleet, 

 purchase diesel fuel, and support operations in foreign fishing zones, will also play an important 

 role. 



CONTENTS 



I. Background 94 



II. Fleet 94 



A. Historic Background 94 



B. High-seas Fleet 96 



C. Fleet Reduction 98 



D. Fishermen's Productivity 98 



E. Ports of Call 99 



III. Vessel Construction 101 



A. Domestic Shipyards 101 



B. Foreign Shipyards 102 



IV. Catch 106 



V. Fisheries Administration 107 



A. Committee on Fisheries 107 



B. Fishery Attaches 108 



VI. Bilaterals and Joint Ventures 109 



VII. Outlook 121 



Sources 122 



Endnotes 123 



Appendices 129 



Map 145 



