Research and Training Conference in Arkhangelsk to Address Sustainable Fishing and Conservation of Ecosystems in Arctic

Arkhangelsk will host the first Conference on Bioresources and Fisheries in the Arctic on 11–12 May. The event will serve as a platform for a dialogue between representatives of the government, science, and business. The meeting participants will discuss effective mechanisms to develop the fishery industry in the Arctic region and measures to preserve the ecosystem in high latitudes. The conference will be held as part of the plan of events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023, which are managed by the Roscongress Foundation.

“Prerequisites for the development of the Arctic include the preservation of traditional types of economic activity, the sustainable use of aquatic biological resources, an increase in the scope and types of scientific research, and improvements in their efficiency. It is crucial to use the principles of responsible management of the fishing industry to implement all major infrastructure investment projects in the Arctic zone. Today, the government is paying priority attention to the development of the fishery industry. State support instruments are being used to solve a variety of business problems, and conditions are being created to expand production, processing, and aquaculture and to modernize infrastructure,” Russian Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev said.

The conference’s plenary session will analyse the current state of aquatic biological resources in the Arctic and ways to preserve them. The discussion participants will exchange views on approaches to ensuring the sustainable management of marine bioresources in the Arctic.

“The Arctic is a region with a unique ecosystem and enormous resource potential. Its development plays an essential role for the fishing industry and the whole country’s economy. As part of the further modernization of the industry, there are plans to pay special attention to the creation of infrastructure in the Arctic regions, the construction of fish processing facilities and the fishing fleet, and the development of fishing ports. At the same time, priority must be given to preserving this fragile ecosystem when developing infrastructure in the Arctic and using its reserves. This is only possible with close cooperation between the state, business, and science. I am certain that the conference will help develop proposals and measures for the optimal development of the Arctic region,” Federal Agency for Fishery Director Ilya Shestakov said.

The conference will feature eight discussions in the format of roundtables and seminars. The conference programme also includes a seminar on measures to develop aquaculture, which will increase overall fish production, ensure its availability for the population, and increase the consumption of fish and seafood in the country.

The conference will be attended by federal and regional government leaders, key agencies and organizations, and experts from the scientific and business communities. The conference is being organized by the Federal Agency for Fishery and the Arkhangelsk Region government. The official website of the event is fisharctic.ru.

During its chairmanship of the Arctic Council, Russia pays special attention to coordinated measures to protect, preserve, and restore the Arctic environment, conduct climate studies, strengthen environmental security, including the prevention of environmental emergencies, as well as the sustainable use of the Arctic region’s natural resources for the environmental and socioeconomic well-being of the present and future generations of people living in the region. In particular, Russia pays close attention to the conservation and restoration of the diversity of Arctic flora and fauna as well as the protection of biological species and their habitats.