Co‐operative fisheries management of the cross border Lake Peipsi‐Pihkva

This paper focuses on the management and socio‐economic principles for allocation of the commercial fish resources of Lake Peipsi‐Pihkva. The fish resources of this cross border lake are very important both for Russia and Estonia. Recent changes in the Estonian and Russian economies, and the appearance of the state border dividing the lake, have resulted in deep changes in economic, social and legal issues related to the fishery. As the lake is now an international waterbody, the Intergovernmental Estonian–Russian Fishery Commission (ERFC) agreed for co‐operative management measures annually from 1994. The ERFC is responsible for all general decisions on management strategies and technical measures used in fishery management. The stocks of most commercial fish species in Lake Peipsi‐Pihkva are still abundant, and the economic status of the fishermen is relatively good. It may be concluded that co‐operative management of the Lake Peipsi‐Pihkva fisheries have been successful.