Environmental debt: in theory and in practice

The article discusses the problems of assessing environmental debt using the example of industrial fishing in the coastal seas of Russia. The conceptual essence of this process is revealed. The definition of “hot spots” is given in application to the assessment of ecological debt and services of marine ecosystems. The necessity of using the concept of ecological development, which enshrines the concept of ecological debt, as the basis for all programs and projects of integrated management of marine activities in the coastal seas of Russia, is substantiated. It is shown that when making decisions related to new investments in industrial fisheries, it is necessary to develop long-term strategies and programs for integrated marine management. When developing them, it is important to avoid a topical problem that is called “discounting discrimination” among environmental economists.