The ARRP suggests a surprising alternative approach

Russian Fishermen Challenge Proposed Pacific Cod Fishing Restrictions

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Friday, February 07, 2025, 02:00 (GMT + 9)

The Russian Ministry of Agriculture has proposed a draft order that would significantly restrict industrial cod fishing in the Far Eastern fisheries basin.

The proposed measures include a ban on longline fishing until the end of March 2025, and restrictions on bottom trawling and seine (snurrevad) fishing until mid-April.  These proposed limitations have drawn strong opposition from the fishing industry, which argues that they will negatively impact the harvesting of other commercially valuable species.

The Association of Fishing Enterprises of Primorsky Krai (ARRP) has voiced its concerns.  ARRP President Georgy Martynov stated that while fishermen understand the need for cod conservation measures, they disagree with the blanket ban on specific fishing gear.  He pointed out that longlines, for example, are essential for targeting sablefish and grenadier, which are typically found at depths of 600 meters, while cod are generally found at depths up to 400 meters.  Therefore, the use of longlines poses minimal risk to cod spawning grounds.

"Our fishermen are not targeting cod," Martynov emphasized, as quoted by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.  "A complete ban on longline gear will inflict severe economic hardship on businesses that harvest grenadier and sablefish."

The ARRP suggests an alternative approach: instead of prohibiting specific fishing gear, the Ministry should implement a direct ban on cod fishing itself.  This targeted approach would protect cod spawning grounds without unnecessarily disrupting the harvest of other species.

This is not the first time the Ministry has implemented cod fishing restrictions. In 2023, a ban on cod fishing, regardless of gear type, was imposed in the West Bering Sea and Chukchi fishing zones.  Fishermen reported that this previous ban also prevented them from using the affected gear to target other fish species, highlighting the potential for unintended consequences from such broad restrictions.

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