Problems of management of marine biological resources in the Russian sector of the Arctic

The biological resources of the Arctic seas are renewable natural resources and most of them are the object of intensive exploitation. In the European sector of the Russian Arctic the most intensively exploited resources are the commercial fish species and invertebrates of the Barents Sea which lies within 200-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZs)of Russia and Norway. The main stages of most commercial marine organisms’ life cycle take place in the waters of these countries. The biological resources of the Barents Sea are managed according to the Russian– Norwegian Agreement of 11 April 1975 and decisions of the Joint Russian–Norwegian Fisheries Commission. The major fisheries management measure is setting the total allowable catch (TAC) for each stock for the succeeding year. This measure is based on a commercial stock assessment performed by scientists of both countries in accordance with bilateral and national research programmes. The existing framework research and preparation of scientific recommendations for efficient resource management is presented.