Officials at the meeting discussed a draft national plan to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (poaching). The proposed plan will clarify the basic parameters of Russian government policy and law pertaining to fisheries, and was developed by the Federal Agency for Fisheries in accordance with the international UN Food and Agriculture Organisation fisheries and aquaculture programme. Moreover, the plan contains practical measures intended to identify, reduce and ultimately eliminate economic incentives for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as well as overfishing.

"The Russian Federation has adopted a series of laws intended to prevent illegal fishing," said the first deputy prime minister in his opening remarks. "A basic law on fisheries has been adopted that sets forth the principles and guidelines of the government's policies for the conservation and sustainable use of living aquatic resources. A transparent system has been established for assigning long-term fishing quotas. Regulation has been put in place that all catch must be delivered to the customs territory of the Russian Federation. A mechanism has been made into law that allows for unscrupulous users to be stripped of their quotas. A system has been established and successfully put in place for monitoring the movement of fishing vehicles. New fishing regulations have been introduced."

Mr. Zubkov also emphasised that the Russian Federation is actively involved in global efforts to combat illegal fishing through international conventions and as a member of intergovernmental commissions.

According to the deputy prime minister, these measures have helped to reduce poaching in recent years. Nevertheless, Mr Zubkov noted that illegal fishing continues to have an adverse impact on Russian fisheries. "Conservation of valuable fish populations, including sturgeons and salmon, demands greater attention," stressed the deputy prime minister.

Based on the discussion, officials at the meeting charged the Federal Agency for Fisheries with refining the proposed national plan and including additional, specific measures intended to prevent and deter illegal fishing more effectively. Viktor Zubkov stressed the need to involve industry unions and associations more actively in this process.