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6.7 percent by a total of 154 percent (from 25.9 million tons to 
65.7 million tons); during the same period of time, the Soviet catch 
increased at an annual rate of 17.9 percent by a total of 413 percent 
(from 1.7 to 9 million tons). The total world investment in fisheries 
is not available, but it is believed that it is, on a pro-rated basis, 
considerably more modest than the huge Soviet fishery investments 
which currently exceed $1 billion per year. It was the large infusions 
of investment capital over the past 25 years that made possible the 
domestic construction and purchases abroad of numerous new fishing 
vessels with resultant increases in the harvested catch. 
The current plans provide for a 1975 catch of 10.3 million tons, 
700,000 tons more than in 1974. Preliminary data indicate that the 
1975 fishing season was proceeding smoothly: During the first half 
of 1975, Soviet fishermen exceeded the planned January—June catches 
by 200,000 tons,° a certain indication that the total catch will exceed 
10 million tons for the first time and that the fulfillment of the 
1975 catch plan is probable.’° 
COMPARISON WITH OTHER MAJOR FISHING COUNTRIES 
The Soviet Union is rapidly approaching the time when it will 
become the largest fishing country in the world. It has had the largest 
fishing fleet since the the mid-1960’s, but because of the much lower 
average productivity of its fishermen, it continues to lag behind Japan 
in terms of catch. (See table 1.) 
® Sovietskaia Latviia, July 12, 1975. 
The 5 Year Plan for 1971-75 provided for a total Soviet annual catch of 10.3 million tons by the 
end of 1975. The accomplishment of fulfilling the 5 Year Plan is an important political consideration 
in the Soviet Union. 
