Fishing ban in the Far East during spawning season in 2025

1. It is prohibited:

1.1. harvesting (catching) of all types of aquatic bioresources (excluding harvesting (catching) Pacific salmon and mammals (ringed seal (akiba), spotted seal, lionfish, bearded seal (lahtak) and kelp) near the mouths of spawning salmon rivers at a distance of less than 2 km in either direction from the mouths and at a distance of 2 km inland from the sea or bay during the Pacific salmon run - from May 15 to October 31 (for the Primorye subzone within the boundaries of Primorsky Krai - all types of fish from June 1 to October 31, within the boundaries of Magadan Oblast - from July 1 to September 15, for the North Okhotsk Sea subzone off the coast of Okhotsk District of Khabarovsk Krai all types of fish - from June 25 to October 31, on Iturup Island - from July 1 to October 31, on Kunashir Island - from July 15 to October 31, within the boundaries of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug - from June 1 to September 30 ); (Clause as amended, entered into force on December 22, 2015 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated October 28, 2015 N 510; as amended, entered into force on May 24, 2016 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated April 19, 2016 N 152.)

1.2. harvesting (catching) all types of aquatic bioresources with trawls in the northern part of Ussuri Bay, limited to the south by a line connecting Cape Basargin and Cape Otkryty (Peter the Great Bay) - from April 15 to June 15;

1.3. harvesting (catching) spawning Japanese smelt, Japanese smelt and Asian toothed smelt with cast nets in the Primorye subzone south of Cape Zolotoy south of parallel 47°20' N - from April 1 to May 30;

1.4. specialized fishery for pollock in Avacha and Kronotsky bays from the beginning of mass spawning, but no later than from February 15 to May 1, and for seine seine - from March 16 to May 1; (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on May 24, 2016 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated April 19, 2016 N 152.)

1.5. specialized fishery of spiny crab:

a) in the East Sakhalin subzone: from Cape Aniva to Cape Terpeniya - from July 1 to August 31, from Cape Terpeniya to Cape Elizaveta - from July 15 to August 31;

b) in the South Kuril zone - from May 1 to July 15;

c) in the Primorye subzone north of Cape Zolotoy (north of 47°20' N) - from May 15 to September 30; (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on December 22, 2015 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated October 28, 2015 N 510.)

d) in the West Kamchatka subzone - from August 1 to August 31;

d) in the North Okhotsk Sea subzone - from August 1 to August 31, and in the area west of 147°00' E - from August 1 to December 31; (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on March 22, 2015 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated February 4, 2015 No. 32.)

1.6. specialized fishery of hairy quadrangular crab:

• in the East Sakhalin subzone - from May 15 to August 15;
• in the Primorye subzone:

1. north of parallel 49°00' N - from May 15 to September 30;
2. to the south of parallel 49°00' N to parallel 47°20' N (Cape Zolotoy) - from April 25 to September 30;

• in the West Sakhalin subzone - from May 15 to September 30;

1.7. harvesting (catching) grass shrimp in the Busse Lagoon - from May 15 to July 15;

1.8. specialized fishery for gray sea urchin in the West Sakhalin, East Sakhalin subzones and the South Kuril zone - from July 15 to September 30;

1.9. specialized fishery of Far Eastern sea cucumber:

• in the Busse Lagoon (East Sakhalin subzone) - from July 15 to August 31;
• in the South Kuril zone - from July 15 to August 31;

1.10. specialized fishery for mactra, spizula (except for Peter the Great Bay) - from August 1 to August 31;

1.11. specialized oyster fishing in the Primorye subzone - from July 1 to July 31;

1.12. specialized fishery for toothless in the Primorye subzone south of Cape Zolotoy (south of parallel 47°20' N) - from August 15 to August 31;

1.13. in Peter the Great Bay, the specialized fishery is for anadara - from July 20 to August 20, corbicula - from July 20 to August 20; spisula - from June 10 to July 20, northern shrimp - from April 1 to June 30; (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on March 22, 2015 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated February 4, 2015 N 32.)

1.14. specialized kelp fishery:

• in the Primorye subzone - from October 1 to May 31;
• in the West Sakhalin subzone - from October 1 to April 30;
• in the North Kuril zone - from September 30 to May 31;
• in the Kamchatka-Kuril subzone within the boundaries of the Sakhalin region - from September 30 to May 31;
• in the Kamchatka-Kuril subzone within the boundaries of the Kamchatka region - from September 1 to May 31;
• in the South Kuril zone - from October 1 to April 30;
• in Aniva Bay (East Sakhalin subzone) - from October 1 to April 15;
• in the North Okhotsk subzone - from September 1 to May 31;
• in the East Kamchatka zone - from September 1 to May 31;
• in the West Kamchatka subzone - from September 1 to May 31;

1.15. specialized fishery for zostera, phyllospadix everywhere - from January 1 to May 31;

1.16. harvesting (catching) Pacific salmon in order to ensure optimal conditions for natural reproduction on the days (periods) of release of producers to spawning grounds, which are established by decision of the commission for regulating the harvesting (catching) of anadromous fish species;

1.17. harvesting (catching) of Kamchatka crab, blue crab and hairy quadrangular crab in the Primorye subzone to the south of the parallel passing through Cape Zolotoy - from May 15 to August 31;

1.18. harvesting (catching) of blue crab in the North Okhotsk Sea subzone - from August 1 to September 30, Kamchatka crab in the North Okhotsk Sea subzone - from August 1 to August 31; (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on March 22, 2015 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated February 4, 2015 N 32.)

1.19. harvesting (catching) of Kamchatka crab in the Primorye subzone north of the parallel passing through Cape Zolotoy - from May 15 to September 15; (The subparagraph was additionally included from December 22, 2015 by order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated October 28, 2015 No. 510)

1.20. harvesting (catching) blue crab in the Primorye subzone north of the parallel passing through Cape Zolotoy - from July 1 to October 1; (The subparagraph was additionally included from December 22, 2015 by order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated October 28, 2015 No. 510)

1.21. harvesting (catching) aquatic bioresources in the estuaries and lagoons of the Taui Bay - from May 15 to June 20. (The subparagraph was additionally included from December 22, 2015 by order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated October 28, 2015 No. 510)

2. It is prohibited to harvest (catch) aquatic biological resources in inland water bodies of fishery importance, with the exception of inland sea waters, during the following periods:

2.1. located on the territory of Primorsky Krai:

a) all types of fish:

• in water bodies of fishery importance in the basins of rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan, through which the migration routes of Pacific salmon pass - from June 1 to October 31;
• in water bodies of fishery importance in the basins of rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan, through which the migration routes of Pacific salmon do not pass - from May 15 to June 14;
• in the Ussuri River basin - from April 20 to June 10 and from September 1 to October 31, except for lakes and reservoirs through which Pacific salmon migrations do not pass;

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In the waters bordering the People's Republic of China, fishing activities are carried out in accordance with the Rules for the Protection, Regulation and Reproduction of Fish Stocks in the Border Waters of the Amur and Ussuri Rivers on the basis of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Cooperation in the Field of Protection, Regulation and Reproduction of Living Aquatic Resources in the Border Waters of the Amur and Ussuri Rivers dated May 27, 1994 (Bulletin of International Treaties, 1996, No. 7, pp. 42-47).

• in Lake Khanka within the boundaries from Mys Nikolaevskogo to the mouth of the Sungach River (including all rivers and lakes located in this area) - from April 20 to July 20;

b) Far Eastern freshwater shrimp - from June 15 to August 15;

c) spawning of Japanese smallmouth smelt, sea smallmouth smelt and Asian toothed smelt with cast nets in the rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan - from April 1 to May 30;

2.2. located on the territory of Khabarovsk Krai, Jewish Autonomous Region, Amur Region;
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In the waters bordering the People's Republic of China, fishing activities are carried out in accordance with the Rules for the Protection, Regulation and Reproduction of Fish Stocks in the Border Waters of the Amur and Ussuri Rivers on the basis of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Cooperation in the Field of Protection, Regulation and Reproduction of Living Aquatic Resources in the Border Waters of the Amur and Ussuri Rivers dated May 27, 1994

2.2.1. aquatic bioresources of all types:

a) in rivers located on the territory of the Nikolaevsky municipal district of Khabarovsk Krai and flowing into the Sea of Okhotsk - from May 15 to October 31; (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on May 24, 2016 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated April 19, 2016 No. 152.)

b) in rivers (except for the Amur River) flowing into the Sea of Japan north of the parallel passing through Cape Zolotoy - from 15 May to 30 September (with the exception of small-mouth smelt, Japanese small-mouth smelt, and Asian toothed smelt); (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on 24 May 2016 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated 19 April 2016 N 152.)

c) in the Amur River and the rivers flowing into it, including bays, spills, lakes and channels in the area from the mouth of the Amur River to the confluence of the Shilka and Argun rivers - from April 20 to August 1 (except for the harvesting (catching) of small-mouth smelt, Japanese small-mouth smelt, Asian toothed smelt, pink salmon and chum salmon in the bed of the Amur River and its channels, excluding the Palvinskaya, Limanskaya and Ukhta channels);

d) in the Chukchagir Lake basin - from May 1 to July 15 (except for the harvesting (catching) of ide and smallmouth smelt); (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on May 24, 2016 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated April 19, 2016 N 152.)

d) in the Amur and Ussuri rivers in parts of the specified water bodies of fishery importance adjacent to the border with the People's Republic of China - from June 11 to July 15 and from October 1 to October 20;

e) in the Zeya Reservoir and all tributaries flowing into it, excluding floodplain lakes, as well as in the Zeya River systems above the wedging zone - from April 20 to June 1, and in the variable backwater zone of the Zeya River and the backwater zones of all tributaries at a distance of 2 km from the backwater point - throughout the year;

g) during the spawning run of Pacific salmon:

• in the tributaries flowing into the Amur River and the Orlovskaya, Ukhta, Razboinichya and Pochtovy Amur channels below its junction with Lake Kadinskoye - from July 1 to October 1;
• with drift nets in the Amur River within the boundaries of Nikolaevsky and Ulchsky municipal districts of Khabarovsk Krai - from July 5 to October 10, with the exception of the harvesting (catch) of Pacific salmon;
• with floating nets in the Amur River within the boundaries of the Amur, Komsomolsky, Nanai, and Khabarovsky municipal districts of Khabarovsk Krai - from September 1 to October 20, with the exception of the harvesting (catching) of Pacific salmon; (Subparagraph as amended, entered into force on July 1, 2018 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated June 4, 2018 N 228.)

h) at a distance of less than 500 m upstream and downstream from the mouths of the tributaries of the Amur River flowing into it in the area from the mouth to the village of Pashkovo, and along the entire width of the Amur River - from April 20 to July 31;

i) in the wintering pits of the Amur River - from October 20 to April 30;

k) in sections of the Amur River at the confluence of the main rivers of fish hatcheries flowing into the Amur River, at a distance of 5 km in both directions from the mouths along the coastline and across the entire width of the Amur River inland during the salmon run:

• at the mouth of the Amgun River - from July 1 to November 30;
• at the mouths of the Gur and Anyuy rivers - from July 1 to November 10;
• at the mouths of the Vira and Bidzhan rivers - from September 10 to November 10;

l) in the lakes Kizi, Orlik, Khivanda, Chlya, Dalzha and the rivers flowing into them - from the melting of the ice until November 30;

m) in the Bureya Reservoir and all tributaries flowing into it (excluding floodplain lakes), as well as in the Bureya River system above the wedging zone - from April 20 to June 1, and in the variable backwater zone of the Bureya River and the backwater zones of all tributaries at a distance of 2 km from the backwater point - throughout the year;

2.2.2. crucian carp in floodplain lakes and reservoirs of the Amur region, with the exception of Zeya and Bureysky, - from May 15 to July 14;

2.2.3. Asian toothed smelt spawning in the rivers of the Okhotsk region of Khabarovsk Krai - from April 20 to June 15;

2.3. in the rivers flowing into the Tauyskaya Bay - from May 15 to June 20. (Clause as amended, entered into force on December 22, 2015 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated October 28, 2015 N 510.)

3. It is prohibited to harvest mammals during the following periods:

3.1. fur seal, excluding harvesting at harem rookeries, during the breeding season (harvesting of fur seal on Tyuleniy Island is permitted from June 15 to July 25 );

3.2. ringed seals (akiba), spotted seals, lionfish, bearded seals (bearded seals) in the Bering, Chukchi and Okhotsk seas:

• during the whelping period - from March 1 to April 10;
• during the molting period - from May 1 to May 20;

firearms using vessels - from July 1 to August 15 (in the West Sakhalin and East Sakhalin subzones, harvesting (catching) with nets and traps is permitted from July 1 to October 15, harvesting (catching) using vessels - from April 10 to September 15; in the North Okhotsk Sea and West Kamchatka subzones within the boundaries of the Magadan Region, coastal harvesting (catching) with nets and traps is permitted all year round, with the exception of the molting period. When using nets and traps, the use of firearms is permitted for the safe extraction of harvested (caught) marine mammals).

Species of aquatic biological resources prohibited for extraction (catch)

4. The extraction (catch) of the following aquatic biological resources is prohibited:

• female crabs of all species - everywhere;
• annual kelp - everywhere;
• Laminaria, Zostera, Phyllospadixa, Lessonia laminareides, Cystoseira, on which the Pacific herring eggs are laid, are found everywhere;
• Far Eastern trepang - in the Primorye subzone;
• sea scallops - in the Primorye subzone south of Cape Zolotoy (south of 47°20' N), in Aniva Bay of the East Sakhalin subzone (except for fishing for aquaculture purposes (fish farming);
• sturgeon species of fish, Sakhalin taimen - everywhere;
• masu salmon - in the Primorye subzone (north of 47°20' N), as well as in inland water bodies (except for Lake Tikhoye in the Sovetsko-Gavansky municipal district of Khabarovsk Krai), located on the territory of Khabarovsk Krai. (Clause as amended, entered into force on May 24, 2016 by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia dated April 19, 2016 N 152.)