The ban periods differ by area, from 1 August to 15 November. Commercial omul fishing has been closed since 2017.
The Baikal interregional environmental prosecutor’s office has reminded the public that catching omul by any means is banned during spawning. In Central Baikal (between Cape Goloustny, Cape Oblom, Cape Aya and the mouth of the Boyarskaya River) the ban applies from 1 August to 15 October, in Severo-Baikalsky District from 20 August to 15 November, and in the Posolsky and Istoksky sors and on the Selenga from 15 August to 15 November. Violations are punishable by confiscation of fishing gear and, where the damage is significant, by criminal liability under Article 256 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Commercial fishing for Baikal omul has been closed since 1 October 2017 because of declining stocks. In 2023 amateur fishing was partly allowed, and in 2026 catches for fish hatcheries engaged in artificial reproduction; all four such hatcheries are in Buryatia.
Source (in Russian): IrCity, 16 August 2026.
