Agreement reached on fishing quotas at Estonian-Russian talks

TALLINN – It was agreed during negotiations between Estonia and Russia, which took place this week, that next year, Estonian fishers will be able to catch more pike perch, perch and bream from lakes Peipsi, Lammijarv and Lake Pskov than this year, but less of European whitefish.

The agreements are based on the assessment of the fish stocks of the border lakes by scientists from both countries, the Ministry of the Environment said.

According to the assessment, the generations of the most important commercial fish in the region -- pike perch -- have been small and the stocks in low numbers in recent years, but at the same time they have improved slightly compared to last year. Thanks to this, next year, Estonian fishers will be able to catch 470 tons of pike perch, which is 25 tons more than this year.

When it comes to European whitefish, Estonian fishers will be able to catch 35 tons less than this year, that is only 10 tons in total. According to scientists, in the last five years, an increase in the stock of this fish, which has a short life span, has not been noticed in Lake Peipsi and the number of fish has been decreasing.

As this year, lake smelt fishing is also prohibited next year.

Unlike lake smelt and European whitefish, the stocks of the second most important commercial fish -- perch -- have improved. Next year, it will be permitted to catch 55 tons more perch than this year, that is altogether 895 tons.

Bream is still doing well in the border lakes and Estonian fishers will be able to catch 735 tons of it next year.

The negotiations between the two countries were organized by Estonia and took place online. Estonia had informed Russia in advance that in connection with Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, Estonia did not consider it possible to hold a session on Estonian territory. Also, this year, the representation of the Estonian delegation was moved from the level of the deputy secretary general of the Ministry of the Environment to the level of the head of the fisheries department of the ministry, while only those issues related to the preservation of the fish stocks of lakes Peipsi, Lammijarv and Lake Pskov as well as prudent management were discussed.