MOSCOW, September 25 (Itar-Tass) -- The Federation Council urged the government to take prompt measures to preserve salmon fish, which is part of Russia’s national wealth, used for production of particularly valuable food products.

The Federation Council lodged a parliamentary inquiry with Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, in which it raised the problem of state regulation of salmon fish catches and its products, including caviar.

The senators expressed concern about a catastrophic decline of salmon fish stock. In the 1970s, salmon fish catches totalled 20,000-25,000 tons per year, which accounted for 80 percent of global salmon production, while in 2005, salmon fish caught in all of Russia’s water reserves was less than 400 tons, the senators said in the document addressed to the prime minister.

The senators called for strict measures to cut short illegal fish catches and fish processing. They urged to adopt clear-cut legislative acts to regulate the circulation of fish and fish products, including caviar.