Addressing the meeting Mr Zubkov said that "in September the Ministry of Economic Development will introduce a package of measures for the construction and reconstruction of the coastal infrastructure, compensation of part of the cost of fuel for the fishermen, subsidising construction and modernisation of the fishing fleet and fish processing enterprises, as well as measures to cut transportation costs."

Mr Zubkov noted that illegal harvesting of sturgeon was still the most acute problem. He said that the law on sturgeon fishing has been pending before the Government for three years, but the document has still not been finalised. "A decision must be taken quickly," he said. He added that Russia needed a government programme for the reproduction of sturgeon.