S. Korean pollack quota in Russian waters to be increased this year

By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- This year's pollack quota for South Korean boats operating in Russia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has been raised 40 percent from 2007, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Tuesday.

It said talks that were concluded earlier in the day permit South Korean fishing
boats to catch up to 28,500 tons of the fish, up from the 20,500 tons agreed upon
last December.
The ministry said that in addition to the 8,000 ton increase in pollack,
registered fishing vessels will be allowed keep 340 tons of other types of fish
that are hauled in during operations.
These include 200 tons of herring, 100 tons of squid and 40 tons of cod.
The overall gain is the result of the summit meeting between the two countries
last month. At the meeting in Moscow, President Lee Myung-bak asked his
counterpart to make greater allowances for South Korean vessels fishing in the
western Pacific and in the northern part of the East Sea.
"The increase in quota should allow local boats to operate in these fishing
grounds until December, instead of returning home the month before," said a
ministry official.
This, he said, will help raise profits for fishermen, who are feeling the pinch
of dwindling fish reserves around the Korean Peninsula.