Russia updates fishing ships: minister

The Russian fishing fleet will receive an approximate fifty new vessels before the year's end, Evgeni Nazdratenko, president of the State Fishing Committee, said to the media.

The fleet has by now acquired 160 brand-new ships, and another 27 are being built. It needs an annual 70 new ships to keep up efficiency.

Mr. Nazdratenko will soon convene a committee board session to discuss the fishing aspects of an upcoming Russia-EU treaty. Fifteen European countries are willing to open their markets to Russian-caught fish and seafood, while Russia is ready to accept the European Union's related standards, he said.