In his opening remarks, First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov, in part, said the following:

"Today, we will consider the preliminary performance results of the fishery industry in 2011, including the implementation of the federal targeted programme entitled 'Improving the effectiveness of exploitation and promoting the fishery industry's resource capabilities in 2009 – 2011."

In 2011, the industry once again demonstrated stable growth and achieved good economic and production performance results. As compared with 2010, the catch of aquatic biological resources was up 5% at 4.23 million tonnes. Fish production grew by 7.5% to a total of 4.5 million tonnes. The industry's balanced financial result rose by 11% to 12.1 billion roubles during January-December 2011 as compared with the same period in 2010. The share of organisations operating at a profit grew by 5.4% to 77.8% of their total number. The aggregate payables were down by 66% to 2.2 billion roubles, while the average monthly salary in the industry amounted to 25,400 roubles, which is 12% above the national average in Russia. The import substitution process, which began in 2009, continued unabated. Imports were down another 11%, with 790,000 tonnes of fish imported in 2011 as compared with 889,000 tonnes in 2010. The average per capita consumption of fish and seafood was up at 22 kg in 2011 as compared with 21 kg in 2010.

These numbers are the result of a series of measures adopted by the government over the last several years seeking to improve the industry. In particular, the legal regulatory base was essentially rebuilt, and economic support measures are being implemented, including loan rate subsidies, reduced fees for the use of biological resources and the transition of enterprises to a uniform agricultural tax. Consolidation processes that are taking place in the industry are indicative of enhanced business activity. The number of fishery companies dwindled over the past four years as a result of their consolidation. New industry-wide associations were established, and major public functions are being held, including the third All-Russian Convention of Anglers, which is scheduled for February.

The adoption of a fishery federal targeted programme played an important role in the further expansion of the fishery industry. Only 2 out of 14 target indicators were not attained in 2011: implementing innovative technologies and increasing the number of new commercial reserves. The growth rates should be maintained, and work quality indicators should be improved in 2012. All programme indicators planned for 2012 should be unconditionally achieved in full, including catching up to 4.3 million tonnes of aquatic biological resources; increasing the reproduction rates of young fish by up to 5%; increasing the overall allowable catch by up to 80%. Considering the above-mentioned growth in production and reductions in imports, the domestic catch should be increased to 80% of the Russian market, which is laid out in the Russian Food Security Doctrine.

The constructing and upgrading of fishing vessels, building of coastal infrastructural facilities for the production, storage and transportation of fish products, expansion of the fishing presence in the fishery areas beyond the Russian jurisdiction, securing an effective system of trade in fish products, establishing proper conditions for promoting aquaculture and improving supervisory and oversight activities remain key issues in the industry. In order to achieve these goals, we must continue implementing new economic and administrative methods of stimulation, and we must improve the regulatory base. This work has been pursued very actively in recent years. Five laws, 50 resolutions and executive government orders regulating the operation of fisheries were adopted at the federal level last year.

Tasks that will be addressed in the near future include off-shore fishing, production and sale of fish products, maintenance of aquaculture, protection of biological resources, fishering activities under international treaties and organisation of recreational and sport fishing activities. Regulatory acts covering these issues will help create a favorable entrepreneurial environment and investment climate in the industry and will eliminate unnecessary administrative barriers.

At the end of the session, Viktor Zubkov instructed the appropriate authorities to speed up the development of the State Programme for Promotion of the Fishery Industry until 2020 and submit a draft of it before the end of the first quarter of 2012. The vice prime minister focused especially on the fact that the industry support mechanisms set forth in the existing federal targeted programme entitled "Enhancing the Effective Use and the Development of the Resource Potential of the Fisheries Complex from 2009 to 2012" were retained in the government programme in full.

In general, the commission has approved the list of regulatory acts submitted by the Federal Agency for Fishery for elaboration and adoption in 2012. Viktor Zubkov requested the development of a schedule for submitting the above documents to the Russian government before the end of January.