National decision making process of the Contracting Parties

In addition to the TACs and Regulatory Measures agreed in the framework of IBSFC for the fishery resources in the Convention area, the Contracting Parties / Coastal States take measures for fishery Resources in their Coastal and Inland waters. These are listed below.

Estonia

Almost all waters in Estonia are open for public usage. According to the 1995 Fishing Law the Ministry of the environment manages fishing activities issuing licences for recreational, substantial and professional fishing. The Ministry of the environment may give the right to manage fishing in some waterbodies to the county government or to the local municipality. In waterbodies owned by municipalities fishing is regulated by local municipalities; in private waterbodies by owners.

Taking into account international agreements and Estonian laws fishing is regulated by national rules by catch quotas and by effort. Fishing regulations are based on scientific advice and statistical data of catches.

In case of danger to fish resources the Minister of the Environment shall act to restrict fishing by proposals of scientific and surveillance organisations.

The aim of the Estonian fishery strategy is to create the framework for sustainable development of the Estonian fisheries sector proceeding from Estonian natural preconditions and national interests. The strategy focused on how the sustainable contribution of the sector to economical welfare could be improved. In this connection the following is considered important:

maintenance of high quality coastal and marine environment, protection of valuable species and biodiversity, conservation of critical habitats;

integrated and balanced development of the coastal fisheries contributing to the restoration of the coastal human communities and their culture;

balance fishing capacity to fish resources available, develop energy and resource saving coastal and inland-lake fishery and fish farming;

develop Estonian fish market, fish trade and fish quality management system;

develop national fish resource management and surveillance system;

develop scientific evaluation and advice (not -developing fisheries science)

know-how transfer and fisheries information exchange;

public awareness through environmental and fisheries education and training;

international fisheries co-operation

European Community

The conservation and management of sea fishery resources is the exclusive competence of the European Community (EC). Whenever there is reference to the Member States of the European Community in the text, the relevant competence is subject to the provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy as established under the Treaty of Rome and enshrined in Council Regulation (ECC) no 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture.

In all IBSFC negotiations the EC is represented by the European Commission. Recommendations of the IBSFC are transformed into community law by regulations adopted by the Council of Ministers on a proposal from the European Commission.

In preparation of IBSFC negotiations intensive co-ordination takes place within the European Union, between the member states concerned (Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden) and on the national level.

In national co-ordination meetings representatives of the various organizations with an interest in fisheries (the Ministries responsible for fisheries, scientists, the fishermen associations, the industry, the labour unions, the consumer organizations) formulate the position of the respective Member State The formal EC position is established following co-ordination within the framework of the entire Community.

The conservation and management of the fresh water fish stocks is mainly undertaken by national regulations of the coastal states of the Baltic Sea.

The general objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy are to protect and conserve available and accessible living marine aquatic resources, and to provide for rational and responsible exploitation on a sustainable basis, in appropriate economic and social conditions for the sector, taking into account of its implications for the marine eco-system, and in particular taking into account of the needs of both producers and consumers.

There are additional management criteria related, for example, to restructuring and modernisation of the fishing fleet. Member States can also establish more restrictive conservation measures applicable to their own fishermen.

Latvia

In compliance with the "Law on Fishery" the management of fish resources in inland, territorial and economic zone waters are under supervision of the National Board of Fisheries, while the protection of fish resources is the competence of the Ministry of the Environmental Protection and Regional Development.

The state functions in fisheries sector are performed and represented in the international organizations (IBSFC etc.) by the National Board of Fisheries.

The "Law on Fishery" adopted in 1995 determines the property issues for the fishery resources and fishing rights. This law declares all natural fishing resources to be state property and private property rights apply only to those fish stocks are grown in private aquaculture settings. Latvia has the exclusive rights to use and administer fishery resources in the waters of Latvia's economic zone.

Local governments are entrusted with the management of fishery resources and the lease of fishing rights in the Baltic Sea coastal and inland waters. The National Board of Fisheries manages the lease of fishing rights in the Baltic Sea beyond the coastal waters.

The annual catch quota of herring, sprat, cod and salmon are allocated by the IBSFC, then distributed among the fishery companies. This distribution is based on agreements of leasing of fishing rights between the National Board of Fisheries and fishing company. The fishing licences for vessels are distributed separately by the Marine Environment Board.

Advice on management and protection of fish resources within the waters of Latvia jurisdiction is given by Latvian Fisheries Research Institute.

Fishery in the Baltic Sea, Riga Gulf and inland waters is regulated accordingly to the "Regulation on Commercial Fishing in the Inland Waters of the Republic of Latvia" adopted in 1991 and the "Regulations on Commercial Fishing in the Latvian Territorial Sea Waters, Economic Zone and the Gulf of Riga" adopted in 1994 and revised in 1998.

The development of Latvia's fisheries and main management criteria are based on following principles:

sustainable use of fish resources,

development of rational exploitation of coastal fish stocks,

achievement of correspondence between fishing capacity and resources available,

implementation of selective and environmentally friendly fishing methods,

improvement of utilisation of catch for products of human consumption,

quality assurance of fish products and harmlessness,

widening of Latvian market of fish products,

development of fisheries science and education,

increasing of social and economical welfare of coastal population.

The 1991-1993 crisis greatly reduced the size of the fishery fleet, which was becoming outdated and ineffective. At present the size of the fleet in general corresponds to available fish resources in Latvian waters, but its modernisation is urgently needed. Latvia's fishery policy does not compromise any plans of large increase in size of fishing fleet to avoid the over-capacity and need for fleet reduction in future, which is taking place in a number of European states.

Currently, the main goal is to create a responsible fishery mechanism at all levels, from the National Board of Fisheries to the local government, and even more important, to the individual fishing company and fisherman.

Lithuania

The management of the fish resources in the Lithuanian economic zone of the Baltic Sea, territorial and inland waters lays under the competence of the Fish Resources Department of the Environmental Protection Ministry and protection of fish resources is carried out by the territorial subdivisions of the Ministry.

According to the IBSFC and scientists recommendations the Environmental Protection Ministry determinates catch quotas in Lithuanian waters in the Baltic Sea. There are five limited fish species: cod, herring, sprat, salmon and sea trout. These quotas are distributed to fishery enterprises by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

According to the received limits enterprises get the permits (licences) for fishing in the Baltic Sea. These permits (licences) are given by the Fish Resources Department Klaipeda division.

In the permits fishing gear, time and means which the enterprise should grant for restocking of fish resources are specified. Fishing in the Lithuanian economic zone is carried out according to the ''Regulations of fishing and protection of fish resources in Lithuanian economic zone in the Baltic Sea''.

Amateur and licensed fishing is organised according to the order set by the Environmental Protection Ministry.

Main management criteria

Rational usage of fish resources

Protection of fish and other water habitants in the Baltic Sea, regulation of the usage (rules, limits, etc.) in the Baltic Sea.

Rehabilitation of resources of endangered and rare fish species, other water inhabitants.

Improvement of fishing regulation means according to scientific recommendations.

The researches of fish resources state and its fodder.

Close co-operation between the institutions of fishery regulation and fish protection in foreign countries.

Poland

The Polish maritime waters which consist of internal waters, territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone are a State property.

The fisheries administration in Poland is an integral part of a general maritime administration which is organized in two-levels structure. The overall responsibility for fisheries policy lies with the Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy who is a central maritime administration authority. The position of a regional maritime administration authority is hold by the Directors of three Maritime Offices (one on the west, one on the east and one in the middle of the Polish coast).

The basic conservation and management rules for the sea fishery resources are set in 1996 Sea Fishery Law. A number of its provisions are also implemented through a more detailed regulations, out of which those of a common nature are issued by the minister whereas those regarding some specific implementation issues or referring exclusively to local conditions are issued by regional fisheries authorities (Maritime Offices).

Recommendations of the IBSFC are implemented by national regulations adopted, depending on their subject and scope, either by the Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy or by the Director of Maritime Office.

The Polish mandate for negotiations at IBSFC forum, each time is elaborated in close consultations between parties concerned (representatives of the Ministry, Maritime Offices, scientists, fishermen associations, the industry). Similar consultations take place after each IBSFC session in order to advice the fisheries administration authorities whether (or not) and how the IBSFC recommendations could be implemented in the way acceptable for the fisheries sector.

scientific evaluation and advice;

sustainable use of fisheries resources (responsible and rational exploitation);

effectiveness and practicability of conservation measures;

maintaining the profitability of fisheries with due consideration to its socio-economic aspects;

Russian Federation

In compliance with the decision of the Russian Government State Committee for Fisheries was transformed into the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Russian Federation in May 1997.

One of the main tasks of department's activity is the conservation and management of fishery resources in the Russian economic zone. The control of fisheries in Russia is carried out by the regional fish protection authorities under the auspices of the Department of Fisheries. They are specially authorized to protect fish stocks and to implement the measures of control and enforcement.

Two bodies co-ordinate and enforce fisheries regulation in the Baltic Sea: the Western Basin Department of Fish Protection in Kaliningrad ( Zapbaltrybvod) and the North-Western Basin department of Fish protection in St-Petersburg (Sevzaprybvod).

The basin's scientific fisheries councils have been created for solving problems of management of water biological resources at the local level. During distribution of fishery resources they take into account not only the interests of local state authorities, but also shipowners, fishermen, trade unions. Baltic Scientific Councils have reviewed the results of scientific and research works made for fishery stocks assessment, define the measures for fishery regulations. The Council's decisions when approved by the Department of Fisheries become obligatory for implementations.

The annual catch quota, allocated by the IBSFC, then distributed among the fishermen on the basis of agreements on leasing of fishing rights.

Main management criteria:

Development and implementation of the state policy on rational utilization of the water biological resources.

Conservation and management of fishery resources in the Russian economic zone, continental shelf, territorial waters as well as in the High Seas and in international convention areas.

Participation along with the Ministry of Environment in the implementation of state control over the protection of marine environment.

Development of fisheries science and organization of scientific researches for fishery stocks assessment.

Insurance of state 's protection of water species and their biodiversity. State control over the implementation of laws for utilization of water biological resources in the inland waters, economic zone, continental shelf as well as international agreements related to this matter.

Implementation of unified technical policy in fish processing on the basis of modern technology, technical re-equipment of processing plants and fishing fleet.

Development of international fisheries co-operation.

Training and retraining the fishery industry professionals.
Insurance of safety of fishing.

Co-ordination of scientific, technical, social and economic development of fisheries in Russia.