Rosrybolovstvo is considering a temporary ban on catching Baikal omul from 2017 to preserve its rapidly declining population. Scientists warn fish stocks in Lake Baikal are already critical, and delay could leave nothing to catch. A final decision is promised by year end, weighing scientific data and the interests of local residents, fishermen and the fishing industry.

The Federal Agency for Fisheries, in light of scientists’ recommendations, is considering the introduction of temporary restrictions on the harvest of Baikal omul starting in 2017 in order to preserve its population.
As reported on the Rosrybolovstvo website, at a videoconference meeting with the regions, scientists, and other agencies, the head of the Agency, Ilya Shestakov, noted that this year, when fishing quotas have already been allocated and fishing companies have formed their plans for the fishing season, it would be inappropriate to impose a ban.
— There are precise data from industry science, which we have no right not to trust. But at the same time, we understand the full complexity and multilayered nature of this issue. Here it is necessary to take into account the interests of all parties whose activities directly depend on the catch of omul in Baikal — local residents and fishermen, — the press service quotes Ilya Shestakov. — Therefore, by the end of the year we will study all scientific justifications, the positions of the interested parties, and make a final decision. At the same time, the reality is such that we need to prepare for the introduction of a temporary ban on catching omul in Baikal, most likely already from next year. The measure is harsh, but necessary. Omul is one of the symbols of Lake Baikal and the region itself, and the complete disappearance of this species cannot be allowed under any circumstances.
According to Vladimir Peterfeld, director of the Baikal branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Gosrybtsentr,” as he stated at the meeting, the results of studies show that since 2008 there has been a steady decline in omul stocks in the waters of Lake Baikal, and at present the population is in a critical state.
Reference: in 2008, the biomass of omul fell below 20 thousand tons for the first time, by 2012–2013 it had decreased to 15.4–15.8 thousand tons, and by 2016 — to 15.1 thousand tons.
The number of spawning fish entering the rivers also continues to decline: in 2015 the figure was 2.1 million specimens, which is much lower than the long-term average (4.3 million specimens) and at the level of the minimum value recorded in 2013 (2.1 million).
— The recommendation of industry science, based on the results of many years of observations, is to impose a ban on catching omul in the waters of Baikal. If measures are not taken immediately, in the very near future we will come to the point where there will simply be nothing to catch, — the press service quotes Vladimir Peterfeld as saying.
The introduction of this ban will make it possible to increase the effectiveness of measures to curb the illegal circulation of omul products.
According to Svetlana Brazhnik, head of the laboratory of freshwater fish at the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “VNIRO,” who also took part in the meeting, the parent institute supports Gosrybtsentr’s recommendation for the immediate introduction of a ban on catching omul in Baikal, except for fishing for scientific research purposes and for reproduction.
The meeting, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation — Head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries Ilya Shestakov, was attended by representatives of the authorities of the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia, the Limnological Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “VNIRO,” the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Gosrybtsentr,” as well as fishing industry representatives.