Russia against establishing fishery zones on Caspian

Russia speaks against the establishment of special fishery zones on the Caspian, because this may deal a serious blow on the Caspian bioresources, Viktor Kalyuzhny, a deputy foreign minister, the Russian president's envoy on the settlement of the legal status of the Caspian Sea said Wednesday at the international forum "Caspian: Politics, Economics, Business 2004" in the Kazakh capital.

He expressed doubt in regard to the fact that "it's easier to fight poaching in national zones." "I am convinced that through joint efforts we will be able to achieve more than acting one by one," he stressed.

The Russian president's envoy believes that "the appearance of fishery zones will undermine the efficiency of collective regulation of fishing activity, as well as the possibility to constantly reproduce fauna." Mr. Kalyuzhny recalled that "while meeting partners halfway," Russia changed its original position, and suggested "establishing on the Caspian 15-mile littoral zones where Caspian states will have exclusive rights to carry out fishing." Mr. Kalyuzhny believes that "we can't go further." "Our inability to agree and establish order in our common home is fraught with serious consequences not only for the fish population but for our own revenues from export," said the Russian president's envoy.