Earlier, this bill was submitted for consideration to the State Duma by the Russian government.
It was proposed to amend the federal laws "On the exclusive economic zone" and "On fishing and conservation of aquatic biological resources."
The bill aims to totally ban industrial and costal fishing of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
An explanatory note reads “the ban is due to the biological characteristics of these marine animals, as well as their significance for the marine ecosystems.”
The decision to ban fishing of cetaceans came after the authorities had discovered a “whale prison” in the Srednyaya Bay located in the Primorsky Krai. 11 orcas and 90 belugas were held in the marine containment facility waiting for sale to Chinese dolphinariums and aquariums. The President of Russia intervened and the sea animals were released. After the "whale prison" scandal, the government was told to improve the legislation to preclude a similar situation occurring in the future.
