Russia, Oman to expand cooperation in fisheries

MOSCOW. April 22 (Interfax) - Russia and Oman plan to expand cooperation in fisheries.

A memorandum signed by Russia's Federal Fisheries Agency and the Omani Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources on the sidelines of negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said sets the goal, the Federal Fisheries Agency said.

The sides agreed to develop cooperation in the preservation, management and rational use of water resources and to counter illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing.

It is also planned to work together on improving fishing and catch processing methods and to expand capacities for fish trade and supplies. Another area of cooperation is research, as well as training and professional development of fishery industry personnel.

"Russian scientists are ready to help assess fish resources and elaborate measures for their rational use. Expeditions of Russian and Omani specialists could become the main area of scientific and technical cooperation in the coming years," Federal Fisheries Agency head Ilya Shestakov said, as quoted by the agency.