SEJONG (Yonhap News) ― South Korea and Russia have struck a deal on the 2013 quota for Korean fishing boats operating in Russian waters, the Fisheries Ministry said Friday.

During the negotiation held in Moscow from Tuesday to Thursday, the two countries agreed to set South Korea’s fishing quota for pollack for this year at 20,500 tons, which is half of last year’s allotment, the ministry said.

However, if South Korea’s bill to prevent illegally-caught Russian crabs from reaching the country via Japan passes the National Assembly, Russia will allow South Korean fishing boats to catch an additional 19,500 tons, making this year’s pollack quota the same as last year, the ministry said.

Russia permitted South Korean fishing boats to catch up to 4,450 tons of cod, 7,500 tons of mackerel pike and 8,000 tons of squid this year, the same level as last year.

The two countries began the talks in November, 2012.