RF plans to ink anti-poaching agreement with Japan 2011.

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12/1 Tass 110

MOSCOW, January 12 (Itar-Tass) - Russia plans to ink an anti-poaching
agreement with Japan this year with the aim to put an end to poaching
activity in the Russian exclusive economic zone in the Far East, the head
of Russia's federal fishery agency Rosrybolovstvo, Andrei Krainy told a
news briefing on Wednesday.
According to Krainy, about 100 poacher vessels similar to the schooner
The Partner, which went missing in the Tatar Strait late last week, are
currently operating in this region.
"This is a big problem, but we plan to sign an agreement with Japan,
which will put an end to such activity. Poaching will go unprofitable,
because ports will just stop unloading vessels carrying poached fish and
crabs," Krainy said.
He added that the agreement had taken several years to draft. Krainy
himself would sign it on behalf of the Russian government, and the
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan will do that for
his country.
A similar agreement was signed with South Korea last year and another
one is to be concluded with China.

-0-gor/str