MOSCOW, May 9. /TASS/. Russia is considering the possibility of establishing a government agency to supervise catching of cetaceans. The Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Natural Resources and other authorities are tasked to consider the matter, Izvestiya newspaper reporters on Monday, citing the minutes of the meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Viktoriya Abramchenko.
The Ministry of Natural Reserves believes that the Russian Federal Security Service can prevent the illegal catch of cetaceans and control their illegal turnover in the most efficient way. The Ministry also considers toughening liability for illegal catching.
The Federal Agency for Fisheries disagrees with the ban on catching because "maintenance of animals in captivity is aimed in particular at preserving and restoring their natural populations," according to the minutes. The Ministry of Culture noted in its turn that operations of dolphinariums and circuses are licensed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier signed the law banning commercial and coastal catching of cetaceans. According to the document, stricter regimes of limiting or regulating sea mammals’ catching are introduced in the Russian exclusive economic zone. The document stipulates in particular that "for purposes of supporting preservation of sea mammals, restrictions can be introduced for sea mammals’ catching in the Russian exclusive economic zone, including the ban and closing of catching individual species of sea mammals.".