D9 
criteria and proletarian solidarity concepts clearly played second fiddle 
to the pragmatic desire to foster good relations with Portugal’s new 
radical (but as yet far from Marxist) regime.® There is nothing novel 
in the realization that Moscow is willing to let ideological considera- 
tions be superceded by pragmatic conceptions of state interests (Soviet 
relations with the Arab world and with Latin American abound with 
striking examples). But the coordinated manipulation of the civilian 
fleets for this purpose is rather novel. It provides graphic demonstra- 
tion of the state of development of this new arm of Soviet “‘strategic”’ 
might (adhering here to Soviet definitions of ‘‘strategic’’), and of 
its integration into overall Soviet policyplanning.™ 
CIVILIAN FUNCTIONAL ROLES 
__Yet the nonmilitary aspect to this evolution must be emphasized. 
Moscow takes its theory ‘seriously. The central role of economy within 
‘her strategic conception is neither accidental nor misleading. 
The growth and outward thrust of the fishing fleet, its eet 
from coastal activities to large scale distant ‘‘ocean harvesting,” 1 
acquisition of giant trawlers, seiners, refrigerator and factory ate 
even autonomous “depot ships” (which not only carry onboard fish 
‘canning plants, but also ‘‘piggyback” their own fleet of auxiliary fishing 
vessels), all paralleled increasing Soviet emphasis on ‘“‘consumerism.”’ 
Fishing products have become an increasingly important supplement 
to those of the still-plagued land agriculture (still relatively backwards, 
in spite of great financial infusions and gradual improvements over 
the past decade). The 1975 catch of fish “is expected to exceed 
10.3 million tons.’ ® 
PROTEIN 
The seriousness and aspirations of Soviet planners in regard to 
the future economic role of ocean resources may be gauged from 
the fact that data such as the following is given extensive exposure 
in the media: “‘the seas and the oceans are inhabited by more than 
150,000 species of animals. There are about a thousand million tons 
of fish alone. The total biological mass of the oceans has an estimated 
weight of 25 thousand million tons’’®’—“‘the position of schools of 
fish and other denizens of the ocean is acertained, first, by the heat. 
regimen and the plankton’ ®—“‘fish can be concentrated with the 
aid of such stimulators as light, sound, electric current, smell, and 
83 Ibid. As in Atlantic regions, so also in other areas. The increasing Soviet oceanographic and 
fisheries involvement off South East Africa and in Antarctica (especially as re the krill; see footnote 
62) may have reprecussions for future political developments in Southern Africa. But for the time 
being their political role reflects strict priority on the cultivation of more pragmatic state-to-state 
concerns. 
* Ibid. Another example, analoguous to but distinct from that discussed in footnote 61, may be 
found in the policies with which the U.S.S.R. is seeking to circumvent potentially detrimental Law of 
the Sea Conference decisions on territorial waters extensions. Through the provision of aid to 
develop indigenous fishing industries in third world countries, in return for long-term cooperative 
agreements, the U.S.S.R. has had considerable success in guaranteeing future access. (It must be 
noted that similar policies have been pursued by Japan, and—to a much lesser extent—also some 
Western nations.) ‘ 
85 Lobanov, “Soviet Fish Industry,” Novosti 107E189/K, and D. Rozanov, ‘Fishing Vessel Vostok 
and Its Fourteen ‘Hopes,’’’ Novosti GRSAzKANZ; Lobanov’s article also discusses i.e., the Posiet, 
which processes 600 tons of fish daily into fish flour for animal husbandry while afloat. 
86 “U.S.S.R. 1973,’’ APN Handbook, pg. 207. 
87 §. Osokin, ‘‘To the Depths of the Ocean Through Space,” Krasnaya Zevezda, May 21, 1969. 
88 Ibid. 
