Transparent scheme of export of Russian catches onto market of Japan to be set up in Far East

The authorities of the Sakhalin Region (the Russian Far East) and of the neighbour island of Hokkaido have started setting up a transparent scheme of export of Russian catches onto the market of Japan.

As RIA Novosti was told in the administration of the Sakhalin Region on Monday, both sides have already agreed to establish a Russian-Japanese Marine Business Centre in the city of Kushiro on Hokkaido.

The Centre will engage in coordinating actions of the Russian and Japanese sides in the sphere of catching fish and aquatic products and their sale. With the Centre's assistance the Sakhalin fishery businessmen will emerge on the wholesale markets of Japan.

The Centre also intends to deeply study the legislative base of Russia and Japan which regulates the fishery activity, with a view to giving legal support to fishermen of both countries in the future.

The first serious blow at the contraband of the catches to Japan was dealt in spring 2002 when the Japanese and Russian customs officers, having established computer communication round the clock, began to work in the real time regime.

Now the Japanese customs officers, before permitting a Russian ship to unload the catch, undeviatingly ask their Sakhalin counterparts if the documents submitted to them by the Russian captain are authentic or false.

Such bilateral control has made it possible to substantially reduce the contraband flow of Russian catches to Japan.