TEXAS WAS IN THE BEGINNING

As as a symbol of wild capitalism Texas was mentioned during hot discussions with group of specialists accompanying the Chairman of Fishery Committee Mr. V.F.Korelsky in his trip to the Far East region. Later, after all meetings have finished and guests have visited enterprises they were able to talk to fishermen and to understand life of local people better. They were not so passionate any more. Summing the meetings up V.A.Birukov, Governor of Kamchatka, thanked the Chairman of Fishery Committee Mr. V.F.Korelsky for the provided help, but he accepted just many things spoken out by fishermen. Not interfering with the activity of enterprises, their free choice for partners helped Kamchtkians to buy 40 ships for 3 years, to start production of fillets, to start deep proccessing of raw fish. ...Allocation of Quota is not systematic. Which results in buying and selling Quotas in water... Situation with crab turned out to be dramatic for Kamchatka. Crab is on shelf; the Law gives us some priorities and Kamchatka traditionally catches for crab. But in fact, Kamchatka was allocated only 14 thousand tons of crab out of 32 thousand tons. And wiithout crab enterprises will become buncrupt. Export is the only way for them to survive. Kamchatka companies have to bear all northern social expenses and that makes production costs very high resulting in incapaciity of products to compete at the home market.

And if payment for the Quota is organized on the competitive basis, to buy it will only be possible for the companies with lower production costs. It is clear that emergency measures are needed not only to defend crab Quota but also for the whole fish industry. Recently ratified by the government program "Fish" can solve the problem only partially, although the fact that this program appeared is positive. At the same time, expected payment for the Quota will force Kamchatka to pay 320 billion roubles. And then about what prosperity can we talk?... Here in Kamchatka we have nothing but fish to rely on.