16 Jun 2010 13:48

Russian fish catch up 18% since start of 2010

MOSCOW. June 16 (Interfax) - Russia has increased its catch of fish and seafood products 18.2% to 1.798 million tonnes since the start of 2010, the State Fisheries Committee said.

That amounts to 44.6% of the annual quota.

In the Far Eastern seas and the Bering Sea, fishermen caught 1.202 million tonnes of fish in 2010, 229,200 tonnes more than in the same period of 2009, including 110,200 tonnes in the Bering Sea (3,200 tonnes less) and 981,800 tonnes in the Sea of Okhotsk (200,100 tonnes more).

In the northern area, the catch rose 41,700 tonnes to 275,200 tonnes or 54% of the annual quota. The cod catch increased 15,500 tonnes to 132,900 tonnes.

The catch in the Baltic Sea declined 3,600 tonnes to 21,200 tonnes or 34% of the annual quota. The sprat catch declined 1,500 tonnes to 11,700 tonnes.

In the Azov and Black seas, the catch was 1,700 tonnes, down from 15,500 tonnes in the same period last year. The sprat catch there declined 3,700 tonnes to 2,700 tonnes.

In the Caspian Sea, the catch was down 5,100 tonnes to 17,800 tonnes, including the sprat catch down 600 tonnes to 2,100 tonnes.

Russian fishermen have caught 206,800 tonnes of fish in other countries' zones this year, or 14,100 tonnes more than a year ago.

A total of 59,600 tonnes of fish have been caught in regions governed by convention and on the high seas in the period, 2,800 tonnes more than a year earlier.