Increased Fishing Quotas Reflect Improved State of Lake Peipsi
The government has approved an amendment under which the pike-perch quotas on the eastern border lakes will increase by 100 tons.
A total of 700 tons of pike-perch can now be caught instead of 600, the Ministry of the Environment announced. The change was made possible by the fact that fish stocks are more abundant. Russia's consent was also necessary, and the cooperation between the countries in the Lake Peipsi region has improved.
"We have been able to significantly reduce the burden on the lake and stabilize the state of the Peipsi," said Environment Minister Keit Pentus, adding that fishermen now stand to make more income.
In 2010, Estonian fishermen caught 1,205 tons of perch, 507 tons of pike-perch, 46 tons of pike and 434 tons of bream in the Peipsi and the interconnected Lämmijärv and Lake Pskov. This year's allowable catch is 1,744 tons of perch, 700 tons of pike-perch, 110 tons of pike and 600 tons of bream.
Kristopher Rikken