229 
such as finance, labor, legal affairs, or that are subdivisions of the 
given industry, with operations in a specific area. Most of the ocean 
related ministries have their own legal departments indicating com- 
petence, if not actual responsibility in maritime legal matters. There 
have been periodic shifts and experimentation in the distribution of 
powers between the central ministry and its component units. Enter- 
prises are generally responsible to the glavk of their ministry. They 
receive plans from the glavk and submit applications for supplies 
and investments funds to the glavk.*® 
A ministry is headed by a minister and he along with his senior 
deputies and the heads of chief departments form the collegium of 
the ministry. The officials in these high level positions usually have 
made their career in the industry and have a specialized expertise 
in their field. They can be considered more as ‘‘senior business execu- 
tives” rather than politicians,®*® but they have opportunities for continu- 
ous contact with political leaders and provide information and alter 
policies.*° The collegium meets regularly to consider reports from 
lower bodies, formulate reports for the Council of Ministers, and 
draft directives for lower bodies. The collegium looks into questions 
of practical management of enterprises, staffing, and hears reports 
of their activities.*' It has an advisory role to the minister, and deci- 
sions are effected by an order from the minister. If disagreement 
arises in the collegium, the minister implements his decision, but in- 
forms the government of the difference of: opinion. Collegium mem- 
bers are entitled to appeal the minister’s decision to the government.” 
A number of ministries, committees and agencies under the Council 
of Ministers are either directly involved in ocean activities or have 
divisions that conduct important work in this field. Various other 
ministries and committees interact with primary ocean users and their 
activities must be coordinated for providing supplies and other 
services. One can assume, for example, that the Ministry of Fisheries 
has important relations with the Ministries of Agriculture, Defense, 
Finance, Food Industry, Foreign Trade, Land Reclamation and Water 
Resources, Meat and Dairy Industry, and Trade. This cluster of institu- 
tions involved in aspects of fisheries can develop interests that support 
or challenge policies promoted by the Ministry of Fisheries. 
Three ministries have almost exclusive ocean interests. The Ministry 
of the Maritime Fleet is involved in planning and oversight of shipping 
activities. The Ministry of Fisheries works with the regional administra- 
tions, republic ministries, and fisheries research institutes. The Ministry 
of Shipbuilding is in charge of shipyards and design institutes and 
builds ships for the navy, maritime, and fishing fleets. 
There are also other ministries and government agencies with major 
subdivisions in ocean affairs. The Ministry of Defense in the Soviet 
Union receives special attention and is an important consideration 
in policy and planning. The primacy of defense interests and military 
58 Alec Nove, ““The Soviet Economy, An Introduction” (New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Inc., 
1969), p. 69. 
59 Ibid. 
69 Gilison, p. 134. 
61N_ P. Sysoev, ‘“‘Economics of the Soviet Fishing Industry’’ (Moscow: Pischevaia promyshlennost’, 
1970). Translated by Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, 1974 (Available from 
Springfield, Virginia: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service), p. 47. 
62 Ibid. 
