Quota allocation

The Alaska Pollock quota is allocated among fishing companies according to the Federal Law “On Fishing and Preservation of Marine Living Resources” and specific regulations of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Federal Fisheries Agency.

According to the Law “On Fishing and Preservation of Marine Living Resources” there are several types of quotas depending on the type of fishing:

• commercial fishing;                                                                   

• coastal fishing;

• fishing for scientific research purposes;

• fishing in the educational, cultural and educational purposes;

• fishing in order to aquaculture (fish farming);

• recreational and sport fishing;

• fishing in order to ensure maintenance of traditional ways of life and traditional economic activities of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Russian Far East; etc.

The allocation of quotas for pollock begins after approval of the total allowable catch (TAC), which is established on the basis of scientific justification individually for each fishing subzone. Rosrybolovstvo distributes the volume of quotas by type of fishing for each area separately within the TAC volume.

Then, Rosrybolovstvo carries out the allocation of quotas (industrial and coastal) among fishing companies. Fishing companies have a secured right to a fixed share (%) of the Alaska Pollock total quote in each fishing zone area. This mechanism also called as “ historical principle” has been introduced in 2008 and has guaranteed companies’ right for quota for next 10 years. Starting 2018, quota shares will be granted to the fishing companies for 15 years period.

On the basis of quota share (%) Rosrybolovstvo calculates quotas for each company in a specific zone. Then, the quota calculation in tons for companies is approved by the order of the Federal Fisheries Agency on annual base.

After the FFA order on quota allacition for the fishing companies, the companies are applying for catch permits for specific amount of Pollock in a specific zone. The fishing permits are issued for fishing vessels.

International quota for Pollock distributed under the intergovernmental agreements is approved on an annual basis.

The Law “On Fishing and Preservation of Marine Living Resources” defines the procedure under which the company may be deprived of the quota share, for example, in cases of violation of certain provisions of the Federal Law On fisheries and the Fishing Rules. In such cases, free quota share are re-allocated through auction mechanism.

TAC allocation among different types of quota for Walleye pollock for 2017 in the Russian EEZ is availible in the TAC section.