"We have to assess the entire state of affairs in this sphere and outline concrete and efficient measure for resolving specific problems and developing this industry as a whole," he said opening up on Wednesday the sitting of the Marine Collegium under the cabinet of ministers.
The efficiency of state management of the fish industry must be boosted, the said.
Fradkov also stated that this industry is actually lacking an efficient policy pegged to the capability of regions.
The law on the protection of aquatic bioresources is idling as the required normative acts have not yet been adopted, he said.
All this has a negative effect on the national food security, Fradkov stressed.
In his figures, over the last 15 years the consumption of fish in Russia has halved and in 2004 stood at only ten to eleven kilograms per person annually. Half of the Russian market is imported products made from fish caught by Russia, the prime minister noted.
He stressed the need of taking steps to retarget producers towards the domestic market.
Fradkov also believes it necessary to improve the quality of work of Russian ship-repair bases.
He said that over 65 percent of the Russian fishing vessels have exceeded their service life. Thus, the state of the Russian fishing fleet actually prevents the development of the national fish industry.
Meanwhile, only 20 percent of the production capacity of the national ship-repair bases is being used, Fradkov said.
This is explained by the ship repair at foreign shipyards being more advantageous, he said.
Fradkov stressed the need of state support for the innovation process in retooling the Russian fishing industry.
