The 1998 Russian-Japanese Agreement on Fisheries in the Territorial Sea of Russia adjacent to the South Kuril: Contemporary International Law Issues

INTRODUCTION. Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Japan on some issues of fisheries was signed on February 21, 1998 (hereinafter referred to as the 1998 Agreement). The area of application of the 1998 Agreement encompasses the Russian territorial sea around the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai (the Lesser Kuril Islands). Opinions expressed in the scientific and legal literature as well as by representatives of the Russian fishing industry regarding the 1998 Agreement, its significance, and the advisability of its implementation varied. For instance, it was argued that the 1998 Agreement was a political concession made by the Russian government to Japan with the hope of creating a favorable climate for investments in Russia's economy. [Zilanov 1998:50-53]. Another viewpoint was expressed, suggesting that the 1998 Agreement represents a compromise between the positions of Russia and Japan. [Vylegzhanin, Neverova 2016:35-62]. In 2022, Russia made the decision to suspend the implementation of the 1998 Agreement due to the failure of the Japanese side to fulfill its financial obligations. In light of the unfriendly measures taken by the Japanese government, Russia informed Japan of its inability to arrange intergovernmental consultations regarding fishing in the specified areas of the Russian territorial sea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The present study is based on an analysis of the 1998 Agreement as a source of international law within the overall systemic context of its norms regarding the conservation and management of marine living resources. The spatial dimension and substantive legal content of the 1998 Agreement are examined in detail, and various perspectives on its contemporary significance in terms of Russia's national interests are presented. The methodological framework comprises general scientific methods of research (analysis, synthesis, induction, and deduction), as well as specialized legal methods (formal-legal and comparative legal).

RESEARCH RESULTS. The current political and legal assessment of the 1998 Agreement, its Annex, as well as the annual Memoranda is determined by the general context of international legal norms applicable to relations between Russia and Japan in the field of conservation and management of marine living resources. It is noted that the 1998 Agreement, its Annex, as well as the annual Memoranda do not contain any obligations of Japan to grant similar rights to fish for marine living resources to Russian vessels in the territorial sea of Japan, for example, near the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The insignificant economic importance of the 1998 Agreement for both contracting parties is revealed in the general context of fisheries relations arising from other intergovernmental bilateral agreements between Russia and Japan.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The conservation and management of marine living resources in the areas adjacent to the Southern Kuril Islands is complicated by the differing views of Russia and Japan regarding the status of these islands. Japan, as is well known, disputes Russia's sovereignty over them; in this context, the 1998 Agreement is a unique international treaty of Russia, in the sense that neither its text nor its Annex mentions Russia's sovereignty over the “disputed” islands. At the same time, as shown by the analysis of the 1998 Agreement, it is evident that by signing this document, Japan agreed that Japanese fishermen, when fishing off the shores of the “disputed” islands, are subject to Russia's jurisdiction; that law enforcement measures against violating fishermen will be applied by the Russian side based on both international and Russian law. However, this fragile legal compromise is now under threat following Japan’s unfriendly actions towards Russia. Moreover, Japan continues to lay claim to the aforementioned islands of the South Kuril Ridge even after the conclusion of the 1998 Agreement.

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