Izvestia: “Russians will not have to purchase fishing licences”
Andrei Krainy, head of the Federal Agency for Fishery, told Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that amateur fishermen will not be charged for fishing.
The media earlier wrote that fees could be introduced for recreational and sport fishing. The excitement was caused by Krainy's comments about the possibility that some fishing sites could be leased to legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, who would charge a fee for their services.
Budget revenues from amateur fishing will be 150% to 200% greater than those from the commercial fishing industry, the official said.
On Saturday Putin asked Krainy why he is threatening amateur fishermen "with possible fees for recreational fishing." The official replied that he was misunderstood and that he was talking only about commercial fishing sites.
There are "6,500 fishing sites intended for sport and recreational fishing," he said. "In other words, it is businesses – mostly small and medium-sized businesses – that acquire the right to the commercial use of these areas on a competitive basis. They are allowed to lease them for 20 years, build facilities for sport and recreational fishing and offer paid services at these facilities."
"In other words, you will not charge me for recreational fishing?" the prime minister asked.
"Not only you – none of the 20 to 25 million recreational fishermen in Russia will be charged," Krainy replied.
The Federal Agency for Fishery has long been trying to bring order to amateur fishing. About a year ago, it proposed setting annual fish catch limits for amateur fishermen, but the government rejected the idea. First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said that internal waters still have abundant fish resources, and that fishing is a major source of income for many families.
At the same time, the government intends to ban the use of nets in amateur fishing because netting is a tool of professional fishing.
Alexei Aronov
