COOPERATION BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA IN THE FIELD OF FISHERIES: RESULTS AND PROSPECTS
Authors:   Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (FSBSI “VNIRO”), Azov-Black Sea Branch of the FSBSI “VNIRO” (“AzNIIRKH”), Dudkin S. I. ,   Southern Federal University (SFedU), Dbar R. S. ,   Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (FSBSI “VNIRO”), Azov-Black Sea Branch of the FSBSI “VNIRO” (“AzNIIRKH”); Institute of Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia (IEASA), Shcherbakova N. I. ,   Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (FSBSI “VNIRO”), Azov-Black Sea Branch of the FSBSI “VNIRO” (“AzNIIRKH”), Bragina T. M. ,   Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (FSBSI “VNIRO”), Azov-Black Sea Branch of the FSBSI “VNIRO” (“AzNIIRKH”); Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University (Akhmet Baitursynuly KRU), Belousov V. N. ,   Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (FSBSI “VNIRO”), Azov-Black Sea Branch of the FSBSI “VNIRO” (“AzNIIRKH”)
Published: September 2024

Background. The Republic of Abkhazia has a high natural and climatic potential for the development of fisheries and aquaculture, which creates a reliable basis for its cooperation with the Russian Federation in the field of fisheries. Relevance. The analysis of the efforts of these two countries in the field of fisheries is relevant for the further advancement of their cooperation and can facilitate the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as rational and economically efficient use of aquatic resources in the Southeastern Black Sea. The aim of this work is to give an overview of the dynamics of the fisheries activities conducted by the Republic of Abkhazia over the past decade and to present the results of its international cooperation with the Russian Federation undertaken within the scope of the Intergovernmental Russian-Abkhazian Fisheries Commission in 2011-2024. Methods. The analysis of the developmental indices of the fisheries of the Republic of Abkhazia and the provisions of the sessions of the Russian-Abkhazian Fisheries Commission in the context of implementation of its decisions has been conducted. Results. The achievements in the main avenues of scientific, technological, educational, and economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia in the field of fisheries are shown. Eight sessions of the Commission have been conducted, under the auspices of which the scientific and technological cooperation between fisheries organizations of Russia and Abkhazia in the area of multidisciplinary ecological and fisheries research has been envisioned and implemented, annual catches of anchovy during its wintering in the waters of the Republic of Abkhazia have been coordinated, operating conditions of the Russian fishing vessels in the Abkhazian sea waters have been established, and the Fishing Regulations for the waters of the Republic of Abkhazia have been developed in compliance with the provisions and articles of the Russian Fishing Regulations for the Azov and Black Sea Fishery Basin. Conclusion. Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia in the field of fisheries has a significant potential for deepening and development.