The meeting of November 18 addressed the situation in the fishing economy, particularly ways to improve the state policy, fight against poaching, enhancement of the capacity of the State to control capture of fishery resources and tougher responsibility for offenses.
The meeting participants urged introduction of an electronic system to monitor capture of fishery resources, of an electronic system of reporting, etc.
Representatives of the State Fishery Agency of Ukraine reported about plans for 2016 to introduce in Ukraine a certificate confirming lawfulness of capture of biological resources in their natural environment. This will enable monitoring of origin of each batch of fish from the moment of capture to retail sales. The document will contain information about a subject of economic activities, name of a body of water where fish was captured, date and amount of captured fish, etc. In compliance with the European practices the Agency plans to open specialized facilities to receive, weigh and sell fish. The facilities are to become full-fledged exchanges.
The meeting participants also discussed draft law "On introduction of prohibition (moratorium) on industrial capture of water live resources in certain bodies of water of Ukraine" (No. 2454a). They highlighted a number of controversial provisions, including amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On fishing economy, industrial fishery and protection of aquatic bioresources" that are suggested for finalizing during preparations for the second reading.
The question of artificial breeding of aquatic bioresources (aquaculture) was discussed separately. The necessity of state regulation of the development of aquaculture was highlighted. The regulation of the development can be through reduction in rent, fiscal incentive, creation of funds for planting of fish in bodies of water, etc.
The meeting participants shared an opinion that it was necessary to move forward legislative initiatives shortly to essentially tough responsibility for offenses in the field of protection and use of aquatic bioresources, to restrict industrial fishery, to define bodies of water where industrial fishery shall be prohibited, and to facilitate artificial breeding of aquatic bioresources for ensuring food security of the State.
Participating in the meeting were people's deputy Oleksii Mushak, State Fishery Agency head Yarema Kovaliv, State Fishery Agency deputy head Andrii Kravchenko, and Andrii Nelipa, president of the Community of Fisher of Ukraine NGO.