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However, the sector faces several problems, including weak infrastructure development, depletion of resources in traditional harvesting areas, and lack of capacity to use low-grade resources. Estimates suggest that harvested timber will not exceed 200-220 m3 in the short and medium term. The authorities stated that, in 2015, round wood exports were 19.4 million m3 (14.5 million tonnes), while harvested timber amounted to 205.2 million m3 (compared to an annual allowable cut (AAC) of 699.8 million m3).

(...) Government policy for forestry development is set out in Government Resolution No. 2593-R of 28 December 2012 "the Programme of Forestry Sector Development for 2013-2020" and Government Decree No. 1724 of 26 September 2103 "Principle of state policy in the area of use, preservation, protection and reproduction of forests in the Russian Federation for the period to 2030". A number of laws and regulatory acts have been introduced over the past few years, inter alia, to improve regulation of forest use, reduce illegal logging, introduce an automated system for monitoring harvested timber (EGAIS), and improve the administration of the leasing system.

According to the authorities, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation is developing a new economic model of intensive forest use and forest reproduction. This economic model is intended to improve efficiency not only for forest industry companies, but also for the State, with key indicators such as increased budget system revenue for per unit of forest, increased tax revenues, and additional job creation.

Russia's reliance on round wood exports is apparently at the expense of moves towards diversification into value-added wood products, which could yield an increase in employment. In addition, focusing on value-added wood products could improve the sustainability of forest resource use by more efficiently using less-valued items such as branches and woodchips for paper, pulp, and wood-based panels. In turn this could raise revenues and contributions to GDP.

The Federal Agency for Fishery is the executive body responsible for oversight of fisheries and conservation of marine biological resources and their habitats, aquaculture, commercial fisheries, and navigational safety of the fishing fleet. The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for state policy and legal regulation in the fisheries industry. Current policy concerning fishing is set out in Government Resolution No. 314 of 15 April 2014 on "development of fisheries".

The Russian Federation operates and enforces a total allowable catch (TAC) system. Each year catch quantities are established for particular species of aquatic biological resources in particular areas based on scientific data on reserves of that species. The TAC is assigned to specific enterprises or persons. In addition, the fishing seasons for some species may be limited and gear restrictions may also apply.

Foreign vessels fishing in marine areas under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Russian Federation are required to have an inspector from the Border Services of the Federal Security Service on board, in accordance with international treaties on fisheries and conservation of aquatic biological resources signed by the Russian Federation. [33] All fishing vessels are required to load, unload, and trans-ship aquatic biological resources or their products that were caught in the EEZ of the Russian Federation in the presence of an inspector of the Border Services of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. A permit is required for all vessels fishing in areas under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Russian Federation, as well as all Russian fishing vessels, even if they are engaged in fishing on the high seas or in areas subject to international treaties.

[33] The Russian Federation is a party to several regional fisheries agreements including: the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock Resources in the Central Bering Sea, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, the International Whaling Commission, the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, the North Pacific Fisheries Commission, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation, and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization.

In order to prevent illegal unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing in the EEZ, the Government adopted a National Plan under Decree No. 2534-r of 25 December 2013 and a list of actions to implement the Plan in Government Decree No. 2661-r of 24 December 2015. Among the actions included in the Plan, is the improvement of control of circulation of imported and exported aquatic biological resources. Furthermore, as part of the Plan, a review is being carried out to enhance the criminal and administrative responsibilities for contraventions of laws and regulations related to fisheries and conservation of aquatic biological resources. Also as part of the National Plan, international cooperation to prevent IUU fishing and illegal circulation of aquatic biological resources is being enhanced and the Russian Federation has concluded bilateral agreements relating to IUU fishing with China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea.

Under Government Resolution No. 314 of 15 April 2014, financial support was provided for the fisheries sector, including:
- Construction and reconstruction of fishing vessels (the measure is planned to run until 2018). From 2009 to 2015 this support measure amounted to Rub 141.6 million.
(...)

According to the notification to the WTO by the Russian Federation, support is provided to fishing organizations in the form of direct funding from the federal budget to compensate for spending on loans for construction and modernization of fishing vessels, fish processing infrastructure, and fisheries products storage facilities. The amount of support was Rub 233 million in 2013, and Rub 6 million in 2015.