APPENDIX IV APPENDIX IV 
SOVIET UNION 
PRESENT SITUATION AND TRENDS IN 
THE SOVIET FISHING INDUSTRY 
During the past two decades the Soviet Union has become 
one of the world's most modern fishing nations. In 1973 the 
Soviet Union owned the world's largest fishing fleet and 
harvest quantity was second only to that of Japan. 
The Soviet harvest represented 14 percent of the world's 
in 1973 and its harvest has been increasing at a much faster 
rate. Between 1950 and 1973 the Soviet harvest increased at 
an average annual rate of 17.9 percent while the world 
harvest increased at an average annual rate of 6.7 percent. 
Per capita fish consumption in the Soviet Union in 1973 
was about three times higher than in the U.S. To meet the 
Nation's nutritional requirements, the Soviet Government has 
set a per capita fish consumption goal which is to be met by 
1978s 
NMFS observed that while the Soviet government stresses 
conservation of the world's fish resources in policy 
speeches, trends indicate that the Soviet Union does uot 
plan to cut back on its total catch as environmental con- 
siderations may demand. Continued emphasis on expanding the 
fishing industry is shown in the Soviet Union's 5-year plan 
for 1976, through 1980. While output of all sectors of) the 
focd industry is to be increased by 23 to 25 percent, the 
output of commercial fish produce is to be increased by 30 
to 32 percent, indicating a much greater reliance on fish to 
Meet protein needs. Other fishery goals set forth in the 
plan are: 
--Expansion of fish meal production for livestock. 
--Better methods of fishing and processing seafoods 
with emphasis on increased automation. 
--Development of new fishing grounds and new fish 
species to be harvested. This goal includes increas- 
ing stocks of "valuable" fish species in inland waters 
and increasing the production of fish farms by 70 
Pewoenits 
--A 16- to 18-percent increase in labor productivity. 
This increase is comparable to that expected in the 
meat and dairy industry (17 to 19 percent). 
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