Минтай и двусторонние отношения в области рыболовства между Российской Федерацией и Республикой Корея

Fisheries, known to provide food security, have played a significant role in the economy of the Republic of Korea (ROK). With an increase in population and seafood consumption, ROK has been forced to seek out new sources of seafood from abroad and locate new fishing grounds for its fishing fleet. One of the key marine resources for Korea has been pollock. Since the year 2000, the Russian government has tried to bring the production and export of Russian marine resources in the Far East under control. This process has repeatedly led to some conflicts with East Asian neighbors, including the ROK. In 2013, a strain in bilateral relations between Russia and South Korea led to the Russian refusal to grant the quotas for fisheries to South Korean fishing companies. The Russian Federal Anti-monopoly Service claimed that several Russian Pollock fishing companies were under illegal control of South Korean businesses. Towards the end of 2013, both countries overcame any barriers, and negotiations were conducted the following year without any complications. Subsequently, the tension in 2013 which affected the Russian-Korean relations in the field of fisheries has brought both parties to a qualitatively new level of cooperation. For the moment, Russia and South Korea are concentrated on the active development of maintaining good relations in the field of fisheries. The recurrence of the same situation is unlikely, and it is subjected to the consensus reached by the parties. Simultaneously, with the above-mentioned events, the Russian Pollock fishing industry has changed dramatically. These industrial changes led to consolidation on the “American” model.