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In 2015, all hunting in water bodies will be prohibited in Russia

In 2015, all hunting in water bodies will be prohibited in Russia

Hunting waterfowl in lakes and swamps will be prohibited in Russia. By 2015, an international wildlife protection agreement will be ratified to protect African and Eurasian migratory waterfowl. This international agreement will prohibit any hunting within the territory of migration routes that cross our country.

The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation has drafted a bill to protect rare and threatened species of animals and plants, as well as to outline a game management strategy in the RF until 2030. The bill was published on the ministry’s website for discussion. The plan includes a clampdown on poaching, increased funding of state inspectors, and it allows enterprises to breed threatened species. Particular emphasis is laid on preservation of the Amur tiger, Persian and Amur leopard, bison, snow leopard, saiga, and “other rare and threatened species, as required by species conservation strategies.”

The discussion has just begun, and both hunters and ecologists are dissatisfied with the document. Hunters do have reasons to worry: they may lose an opportunity to hunt in spring. By the way, the prohibition does not cover Europe, which is the winter quarters of migratory birds. “We have some disagreement over waterfowl, because Western countries want us to restrict waterfowl hunting, while they want to enjoy maximum freedom”, a RUSHF representative says. “It is unclear why only this agreement was included in the strategy” says Vladimir Krever, manager of a biodiversity project run by the International Wildlife Fund. “The Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species is more important. Russia has signed some of its protocols that concern saiga, Siberian white crane, etc. However, Russia ‘s involvement is only partial,” says the expert. Ecologists have concerns too. “The strategy does not stipulate any interdepartmental interaction, and the plan of its implementation for the benefit of rare species is rather superfluous,” says Vladimir Krever. “There is no reference to indicators or sources of funding. Whatever you do, will be strangely in keeping with the strategy. Even if you do nothing to preserve species, it will not constitute a violation.” The expert says that the strategy in its current shape will be of little help in conserving rare birds, animals, and plants.

It offers hunters to outline a concept for development of game management in Russia until 2030, as well as consider an inventory of wildlife, game resources, and habitats. However, hunters do not seem happy about it. “We hoped that the game management sphere was reestablishing itself, but when we studied the strategy, the hope was shattered. How can wildlife protection with a branch of economy mix?” wonders Benjamin Olshansky, the editor-in-chief of the “Hunting – National Hunter’s Journal. “Authorities of the Ministry of Natural Resource and Ecologyare trying to “crossbreed” a rare species conservation strategy with game management - a branch of economy,” explains Vladimir Krever.

Meanwhile, the experts hope that the final version will satisfy both conservationists and hunters. “It was agreed to reconsider the strategy at the community council of the Ministry”, said Vyacheslav Rozhnov, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in an interview to the Russian Newspaper.