Duma terminates 1956 Soviet-UK agreement on fishing rights in Barents Sea

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - The Russian State Duma has terminated an agreement on fishing rights concluded between the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom as early as in 1956.

"This agreement unilaterally granted preferences to UK fishing vessels to operate in some parts of the Barents Sea, along the coast of the Kola Peninsula and along the coast of Kolguyev Island," Russian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Maxim Uvaidov said at a Duma session on Wednesday.

"Over 500,000 tonnes of fish was harvested under this agreement last year alone," Roza Chemeris, a member of the Duma's International Affairs Committee, said while taking questions from parliamentarians.

The Soviet Union and the United Kingdom signed the agreement on fishing rights in Moscow on May 25, 1956.

Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said at Wednesday's session, "It's definitely the first time that we're considering the termination of an agreement concluded back in Soviet times during this Duma's tenure, and this is not a pure coincidence."