Fishing Fleet Development Program: Expectations ànd Realities

The review is devoted to the analysis of expert opinions on the interim results of the implementation of the program ‘Development of the fisheries complex’. The high rate of reduction of the fishing fleet, the increasing risks of a lack of production capacity and restrictions on the increase in the volume of production of aquatic biological resources, the low degree of processing of catches on ships and the lack of innovations in the fisheries complex were prerequisites for the development of the Federal Program ‘Development of the Fisheries Complex’, adopted in 2014. It was supposed to solve a number of tasks that ensure the departure from the raw material orientation of exports by stimulating the production of products with a high share of added value through the development of the scientific and technical potential of the fisheries complex. Its implementation has indeed contributed to a sharp increase in investment in the modernization of the existing fishing fleet and in the construction of new vessels due to the change in the principle of quota allocation. However, the analysis of the implementation of investment projects shows a steady lag behind the deadlines for putting new ships into operation, which leads to negative financial consequences for investor companies. Due to the late commissioning of fishing vessels, investor companies are unable to catch products and meet their financial obligations to financial institutions in a timely manner. The change in the historical principle of quota allocation and the introduction of a new ‘keel quota’ mechanism, deprives fishing enterprises of a certain part of the potential income with which these enterprises intended to cover previously made investments in the modernization and re-equipment of the fleet and coastal processing. It can be stated that at present this program supports only the shipbuilding complex, ignoring the financial interests of both fishing and fish processing enterprises. The author’s position is based on the fact that it is necessary to carry out not only the modernization and renewal of the fleet, but also to develop technologies for deep and waste-free processing of extracted aquatic bioresources within the framework of existing food programs. In terms of organizing the processing of waste generated during the extraction of aquatic bioresources, it is necessary to adjust the program ‘Development of the fisheries complex’