S. Korea seeks to increase pollack quota in Russia's EEZ

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is seeking to double the amount of pollack it is allowed to catch in Russia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the government said Tuesday.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said an understanding
has been reached with Russia's State Committee for Fisheries to examine possible
adjustments to the pollack quota from 20,000 tons per year to 40,000 tons when
the two sides meet in Moscow from March 26-27.
"Every effort will be made to increase the quota in the upcoming talks," said a
ministry official, stressing that the issue is of key concern to Seoul.
The issue was introduced during a summit between South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in September 2008.
The two countries will also exchange views on preventing illegal trading of
fisheries products, said the ministry. In addition, they will discuss joint
efforts to build fish-processing plants and fishing vessel yards in Russia's Far
Eastern region, it said.
The ministry said the head of Russia's fisheries committee, Andrey Krayniy, met
with South Korean agriculture Minister Chang Tae-pyong earlier in the day and
agreed to expand cooperative ties in the fisheries field.
The Russian official, who will visit Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and the port of
Busan on the country's southeastern coast. is expected to stay in South Korea
until Friday.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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