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Ecological Aspects of Fishing Industry |
 Fur Seals WWF Position Statement 04.06.2007 New Fishing Regulations are posing serious threat to endangered marine mammals species, inhabiting the Far East. Until recent the habitats of endangered marine mammals, except only the Gray Whale population in the Sea of Okhotsk which is under threat of explo ra tion and oil ext ra ction activities at the Sakhalin shelf, were safely protected. Former Regulations on Fishing played an important role as well. With the new Regulations almost all restrictions for economic activities at the coasts of the Kurile Islands (where, besides rather stable Northern Fur Seal population, also the Red Data Book species such as Steller’s Sea Lion, Sea Otter and Harbor Seals occur) have been dropped down, including also restrictions for commercial gathering of seaweed and commercial salmon fishing. These activities are all carried out at the coast and pose significant threat of disturbance to marine mammals. When people approach Steller’s Sea Lions and Fur Seals leave their rookeries escaping to the sea, adult males being in panic hurt youngs and females, natu ra l life cycle of animals is thus changed, and conditions for reproduction deteriorate. Such changes in Fishing Regulations are in absolute contradiction with the Federal Law “On environmental protection” (par. 3 art. 4, and par. 1 art. 60) and Federal Law “On wildlife” (par. 3 art. 12, par. 1 art. 20, par. 2 art. 24), as well as with paragraph 3.10 of the 1986 Fishing Regulations (which is still in force according to decree of the Ministry of Agriculture from 26 April 2007, № 218). Regretfully the discussion on the last draft of new Regulations on Fishing took place without any involvement from public, neither fishermen, nor ecologists. Many suggestions from the regions have not been accounted for as well. This worries not only the international NGOs such as WWF, but also state nature conservation agencies dealing with conservation of threatened species. The latter is confirmed by a letter from Sakhalin Department of Russian Agriculture Control Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) sent this year to deputy-head of the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service G.K.Kovalev; in this letter serious concern is expressed, and even complains from local fishermen who care for safe environment in their areas of traditional fishing are included. Overall issues of protection and use of marine mammals are only partially covered by new Regulations on Fisheries, contrary to the other issues; they relate only to the catching activities. Additionally new Regulations have other contradictory issues such as permit for larger vessels to fish in coastal waters and all issues related to by-catch. To even more regret such a serious document as Regulations on Fishing is not subject to state environmental impact assessment; the latter could have easily revealed all negative consequences of new Regulations to the natural environment. WWF-Russia suggests that:
Economic activities at the Far East shall pose no threat to endangered marine mammal species! WWF expresses its further will to participate in building up a wise system when environmental, economic and social interests of individuals, communities, and the state are integ ra ted to secure sustainable development and safe natu ra l environment. For additional information please contact |
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