Fishing Trends Sample Clauses

Fishing Trends. Historically, kilka has been the main commercial species caught in Azerbaijan - being the single authorised commercial fishing species until 2012. Commercial catch of anchovy kilka has gradually decreased during the last 12-15 years due to the reduction of kilka reserves since 2001. Due to the reduced reserves of anchovy kilka, there has been a recent change (between 2012-2016) in the commercial fishing licences issued by MENR where both the number of issued licences (fishing passports) and the number of the larger kilka fishing vessels has decreased. In parallel, the number of licences issued for other (scaly) fish species and for small boats has increased. Azerbaijan has also observed a reduction in the number of recorded violations of fish protection legislation. The likely reason for this change is decreased activity of the DPRAB of MENR during the last 5-7 years by prosecuting violation, and the reduction in natural reserves of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (including beluga, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ stellate, ship ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇) and the corresponding reduction of illegal fishing of these prohibited species. Lately (2011-2016) the number of passports issued for fishing has increased as compared to 2005-2010. However, this increase is due to the increasing number of licences issued for small fish (herring, roach, carp, small fry, bream, grey mullet, shemaya, vimba) and increased number of licences for small-capacity fleet (boats). The reduced volume of the caught commercial species of fish, which is a common tendency for the entire Caspian Sea lately is due to the reduced amount of kilka. The reduced amount of kilka and decreased catch is getting more significant, while the amount of caught small fish is increasing. Thus, as compared to 2005-2010, the tendency of recent years (2011-2016) indicates retargeting of commercial fishing from kilka to small fish. Due to decreased amount of kilka, the number of fishing passports issued to large-capacity kilka vessels has reduced, while the number of passports issued for small fish harvesting and for small-capacity vessels (boats) has increased. Considering the recent changes in development of fishing and the factors causing such changes, it is assumed that this trend will be maintained and continued in near future. The general trend in the development of fishing will be mainly connected with the general degradation observed within the Caspian Sea biota. In future, intensive kilka harvesting in shallow waters is expected to negatively impact ...