APPENDIX IV APPENDIX IV 
STRUCTURE OF THE FISHING FLEET 
In terms of gross registered tons, the Soviet fishing 
fleet is the world's largest. In 1975 there were over 80,000 
vessels in the fleet; however, only about 18,000 were motor 
powered, with over 4,000 equipped for high seas distant 
water operations. Most vessels were small coastal craft or 
inland-water boats. 
The following table shows detailed tonnage data for the 
Soviet high seas fleet in 1974. 
Gross registered Number of Total gross 
Type of vessel tons vessels registered tons 
Fishing vessels 1010) -Eo" 4919 27,025 434,294 
5OOMEO IIS 781 494,518 
Over 1,000 710 1 876),.230 
37 DUG 2,804,942 
Fishing support 
vessels (a) E27) 25, 80 55, OdaZ 
Total 4,043 5,610,014 
2Information not available. 
The trend in Soviet vessel construction during the past 
20 years shows a steady increase in the number of vessels 
capable of operating on the high seas. According to NMFS, 
the number of trawlers, large seiners, and whaling vessels 
has almost doubled since 1955 and the number of support 
vessels has more than quadrupled. 
The trend toward larger vessels and a greater number of 
support vessels is attributable to the Soviet Union's em- 
phasis on fishing in distant waters. Successful distant water 
fishing requires that vessels remain at sea for a long time. 
Large vessels, such as stern factory trawlers, can remain at 
sea for up to a year, provided there is periodic crew rota- 
tion and supplies and fuel are made available to the vessels. 
The stern trawlers are escorted to sea by nonfishing 
support vessels which provide general logistics to the fish- 
ing vessels such as fuel, water, salt, gear, and medical and 
recreational facilities. Once the fish are harvested, the 
stern trawlers can immediately process and transfer the 
catch to support vessels which transport the catch to Soviet 
or another nation's seaports. 
Shey 
