Establishment of a new federal organ for renewable natural resources has been discussed by the Russian Government and Presidential Administration for some time, Kommersant writes.
The Russian Federal Fisheries Agency can become the main basis for the new ministry, and will thus be separated from the Ministry of Agriculture. The fisheries agency was subjugated to the Ministry of Agriculture in May 2012, after four years of direct subordination to the government.
According to the government, the productivity of the Russian fisheries has fallen since the office’s subjugation to the Ministry of Agriculture: “For the first time in the last four years the positive development trend in the branch has undergone a negative change, including lower catches and lower production of fish products”, a governmental note reads.
The Russian Federal Fisheries Agency has been subject for reorganization several times since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Affected ministries have until the end of January to express their opinion on the establishment of a new ministry, according to Kommersant.