At the meeting, officials discussed measures to boost the efficiency of loans provided to fisheries. “Currently, subsidies are provided for investment loans obtained to build or modernise fishing vessels, fish processing equipment, and storage facilities. Subsidies are also available for establishing specialised fish markets in the regions and for settling leasing contracts for the acquisition of fish processing equipment, refrigeration, and vessels,” Viktor Zubkov said.

“In 2011 the subsidies will reach 275 million roubles,” the first deputy prime minister added. “In this respect, we need to consider extending these subsidies to loans taken out for a term of more than five years to build or modernise vessels, fish processing equipment, and storage infrastructure. It has also been proposed to start providing the subsidies by co-financing such measures from regional budgets in 2012. These measures will help use the funds set aside from the federal budget. I instruct those in charge to look into this issue and report to the government,” Mr Zubkov concluded.

In addition, members of the commission discussed fishing regulations meant to maintain the traditional livelihoods of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East. Viktor Zubkov pointed out that such amendments, recently proposed by the Ministry of Regional Development and the Federal Agency for Fisheries, were in discord.

“I request that you complete deliberation in the nearest future. I would also like to highlight that in improving the legislation, we need, on the one hand, to satisfy the interests of indigenous peoples and make their access to aquatic bioresources as easy as possible, and, on the other hand, rule out any possible misuse of this preferential treatment,” Viktor Zubkov said.