Russia, Japan Discuss Fishing Cooperation

Officials from Russia and Japan have launched consultations in the Russian foreign ministry to discuss fishing cooperation in the Russian maritime zone, reported the Center of Information and Analyses of the Russian State Fishing Committee on Tuesday. An agreement on fishing cooperation reached between Russia and Japan in 1998 granted fishing cooperatives based in Rausu, Hokkaido the right to fish for up to 2,300 tons of biological resources per year, the resources in question being, above all, pollock /1,000 tons/ and greenling /740 tons/. According to the State Fishing Committee, the sides are planning to extend this agreement into 2002. Consultations will last until November 22.