Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Fishing ban · Russia · 2016–2026

Baikal omul industrial fishing ban (from 2017)

Nature's voice · report
My omul stock stood at 23–25 thousand tonnes in 1985–2004 and at 14–15 thousand tonnes in 2016, a fall of 10 thousand tonnes over 20 years, according to Gosrybcenter specialists.
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record. Disputed
Recorded
  • My spawning stock stayed at a historic minimum from 2019 to 2023, with first signs of recovery in 2024, according to VNIRO. Interfax
  • A 2024 hydroacoustic survey counted 37 million omul in me, according to Rosrybolovstvo and VNIRO figures reported by Interfax. Interfax
  • The 2016–2018 year classes recruited at a minimum, which affected my current spawning stock, according to VNIRO. Voprosy Rybolovstva / VNIRO
  • Omul stopped entering the Selenga and Barguzin rivers to spawn, according to an Irkutsk fisheries inspector in 2016. EastRussia
What the record lacks: 1 none on record · 1 not disclosed · 6 disputed · 2 unclear See the gaps
Accounts of the harm differ
Size of the omul stock
  • Government and regulators Rosrybolovstvo (December 2025): 7,500 tonnes in 2017 and about 11,000 tonnes in late 2025. Fontanka
  • Researchers VNIRO Baikal branch: Stabilised at 7.7 thousand tonnes in 2018–2020. Interfax
  • Press and investigations Interfax (October 2024): 2024 hydroacoustic survey: 37 million fish, about 8.6 thousand tonnes. Interfax
  • Government and regulators Deputy head Vasily Sokolov, Rosrybolovstvo (reported February 2025): About 7,000 tonnes against a 10,000-tonne target. Interfax
  • Government and regulators Ministry of Natural Resources (2026): 6.4 thousand tonnes, up from 5.8 thousand tonnes a year earlier. Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Cause of the decline in omul
  • Government and regulators Ministry of Natural Resources and Rosrybolovstvo (2016): Poaching was the main cause. EastRussia
  • Government and regulators Irkutsk fisheries inspector (2016): Cormorants and seals were also to blame, and omul no longer entered the Selenga and Barguzin to spawn. EastRussia
  • Researchers VNIRO (2025): Licensed amateur net fishing in 1991–2005 put a high load on the spawning stock. Voprosy Rybolovstva / VNIRO

Russia banned industrial fishing of Baikal omul by Ministry of Agriculture Order No. 450 of 29 August 2017, in force from 1 October 2017, citing a decline in the population. The ban remained in force in October 2026 with no reopening date set.

In force; no reopening dateBan status, October 2026
Rosrybolovstvo expected the ban to be lifted no earlier than 2027–2029 (November 2025).

Status As of October 2026: the industrial fishing ban remained in force; Rosrybolovstvo expected lifting no earlier than 2027–2029 and the Ministry of Natural Resources reported a stock of 6.4 thousand tonnes.

What?
Industrial fishing of Baikal omul in the lake and its tributaries was banned by Ministry of Agriculture Order No. 450 of 29 August 2017, in force from 1 October 2017, and remained banned in October 2026. Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
Where?
Lake Baikal and its spawning tributaries (Selenga, Barguzin, Verkhnyaya Angara, Kichera), in Buryatia and Irkutsk Oblast. EastRussia
When?
Presidential instruction July 2016; Order No. 450 on 29 August 2017; ban in force from 1 October 2017; amateur net ban invalidated 10 December 2024; ban still in force October 2026. Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
Who?
Gained
  • Hatchery and research programmes — Government funds including almost RUB 500 million for the research vessel and larvae releases of about 3 billion in 2019–2023 Government of the Russian Federation
Lost
  • Fishing enterprises and fishers of Buryatia and Irkutsk Oblast — Loss of the industrial catch; no compensation amount is on record Parlamentskaya Gazeta
Harmed
  • Baikal omul — Stock fell from 23–25 thousand t (1985–2004) to 14–15 thousand t (2016), per Gosrybcenter; spawning stock at a historic minimum in 2019–2023, per VNIRO EastRussia
Why?
Rosrybolovstvo cited a catastrophic decline of the population; in 2016 the Ministry of Natural Resources and Rosrybolovstvo named poaching as the main cause. Fontanka
How?
The Ministry of Agriculture amended the Baikal fishing rules by Order No. 450; support measures offered to fishers were described in 2017 as almost unused, and larvae releases and hatchery reconstruction were funded by the state. Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

Ministry of Agriculture Order No. 450 of 29 August 2017 amended the Baikal fishing rules to ban industrial fishing of Baikal omul in the lake and its tributaries; it was registered with the Ministry of Justice on 18 September 2017 (No. 48234) and the ban took effect on 1 October 2017. EastRussia reported that an order to ban industrial omul fishing was issued by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ilya Shestakov on 30 November 2016. A July 2016 presidential instruction was titled "On preventing the loss of the omul population on Baikal". Rosrybolovstvo cited a "catastrophic decline" of the population (via Fontanka, 2025) and VNIRO a "rapid decline in stocks".

In 2016 the Ministry of Natural Resources and Rosrybolovstvo named poaching as the main cause; an Irkutsk fisheries inspector also blamed cormorants and seals and omul no longer entering the Selenga and Barguzin rivers to spawn. VNIRO wrote that licensed amateur net fishing in 1991–2005 put a high load on the spawning stock, that official licensed catches exceeded 200 tonnes a year by 2001 and that real catches may have been at least twice that. Catch cuts began in 2004 (Interfax). Gosrybcenter specialists put the stock at 23–25 thousand tonnes in 1985–2004 and 14–15 thousand tonnes in 2016.

VNIRO scientist Oleg Bulatov said that from 2019 to 2023 the spawning stock barely grew and stayed at a historic minimum, with first signs of recovery in 2024. A 2024 hydroacoustic survey counted 37 million fish (Interfax). Different sources gave different stock totals for overlapping years (see disputes). VNIRO wrote that minimal recruitment of the 2016–2018 year classes affected the current spawning stock and that the pelagic group recovers more slowly. In 2022 summer amateur fishing for omul was re-allowed with limits, and on 10 December 2024 the Supreme Court Appeals Board (ruling АПЛ24-400) invalidated the ban on nets for amateur fishing in the whole Baikal basin.

On the money side, no compensation amount to fishers or enterprises was stated; in 2016 Rosrybolovstvo did not rule out state support and subsidies to help fishing companies change profile. In 2017 the Buryatia agriculture ministry offered retraining and start-up support programmes that were "almost unused". Larvae releases were 455 million in 2019, 520 million in 2020 and 800 million in 2021 (Shestakov via Interfax), about 3 billion in total in 2019–2023 and 415 million in 2024, with 1 billion a year planned for 2025–2026 (Glavrybvod via Interfax). The Bolsherechensky hatchery was reconstructed to produce a billion fish a year in future, and the government gave almost RUB 500 million for the research vessel "Vikenty Zaitsev".

The reopening date moved repeatedly: Rosrybolovstvo suggested 2023–2024 in 2020 and 2025 in 2022; in November 2025 its deputy head Vasily Sokolov expected lifting no earlier than 2027–2029, when the strong 2019–2020 year classes enter the fishery; VNIRO scientists considered an experimental fishery by 2030 (February 2025). On 1 July 2026 Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev said VNIRO assessed the main commercial stocks as "relatively stable" and that the ban had "significantly improved the situation". In October 2026 Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that the ban remained.

  1. 2004Catch cuts began
  2. 2016Presidential instruction on preventing the loss of the omul population (July); order to ban industrial omul fishing reported (30 Nov)
  3. 2017Order No. 450 (29 Aug); registered with the Ministry of Justice (18 Sep); ban in force (1 Oct); Buryatia retraining and start-up programmes offered
  4. 2019Larvae releases of 455 million; stock reported as stabilised in 2018–2020 (VNIRO Baikal branch)
  5. 2022Summer amateur fishing for omul re-allowed with limits
  6. 2024Hydroacoustic survey (37 million fish); Supreme Court Appeals Board invalidated the net ban for amateur fishing (10 Dec)
  7. 2025Rosrybolovstvo expected lifting no earlier than 2027–2029 (November)
  8. 2026Patrushev statement (1 Jul); ban remained in force (October)

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

“Omul trade is often illegal now; we cannot check the legality of every trader's fish”

Rosrybolovstvo · 2016 · translated from Russian · EastRussia

“The new measures are ineffective: poaching remains, fishing collectives are idle”

Sergey Palubis, head of the Buryatia Fishing Industry Association · 2017 · translated from Russian · Parlamentskaya Gazeta

“But what are fishers supposed to do in the meantime?”

Sergey Palubis, head of the Buryatia Fishing Industry Association · 2017 · translated from Russian · Parlamentskaya Gazeta

“From 2019 to 2023 the spawning stock barely grew and stayed at a historic minimum”

Oleg Bulatov, VNIRO · 2024 · translated from Russian · Interfax

“additional research is needed, and the decision should follow from its results”

Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo · 2024 · translated from Russian · Interfax

“we cannot yet guarantee private investment”

Viktoria Abramchenko, Deputy Prime Minister · 2023 · translated from Russian · Interfax

“The industrial fishing ban is not a punishment but a condition for the population's recovery”

“Omul is recovering, but slowly”

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

Size of the omul stock
Government and regulators
Rosrybolovstvo (December 2025)

7,500 tonnes in 2017 and about 11,000 tonnes in late 2025.

Fontanka
Researchers
VNIRO Baikal branch

Stabilised at 7.7 thousand tonnes in 2018–2020.

Interfax
Press and investigations
Interfax (October 2024)

2024 hydroacoustic survey: 37 million fish, about 8.6 thousand tonnes.

Interfax
Government and regulators
Deputy head Vasily Sokolov, Rosrybolovstvo (reported February 2025)

About 7,000 tonnes against a 10,000-tonne target.

Interfax
Government and regulators
Ministry of Natural Resources (2026)

6.4 thousand tonnes, up from 5.8 thousand tonnes a year earlier.

Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Cause of the decline in omul
Government and regulators
Ministry of Natural Resources and Rosrybolovstvo (2016)

Poaching was the main cause.

EastRussia
Government and regulators
Irkutsk fisheries inspector (2016)

Cormorants and seals were also to blame, and omul no longer entered the Selenga and Barguzin to spawn.

EastRussia
Researchers
VNIRO (2025)

Licensed amateur net fishing in 1991–2005 put a high load on the spawning stock.

Voprosy Rybolovstva / VNIRO
Date for reopening industrial fishing
Government and regulators
Rosrybolovstvo (2020 and 2022)

Suggested lifting the ban in 2023–2024, and later in 2025; neither date was met.

Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Government and regulators
Rosrybolovstvo (November 2025)

No earlier than 2027–2029.

Interfax
Researchers
VNIRO scientists (February 2025)

Considered opening an experimental fishery by 2030.

Interfax

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

  • The ban had significantly improved the situation, and VNIRO assessed the main commercial stocks as relatively stable.
    Deputy Prime Minister Patrushev (1 July 2026) · Government of the Russian Federation
  • The ban was a condition for the population's recovery.
    Ministry of Natural Resources (2026) · Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Recorded

  • Order No. 450 of 29 August 2017 (Ministry of Justice registration No. 48234 of 18 September 2017) added the ban on industrial fishing of Baikal omul to the Baikal fishing rules.
    Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
  • The current Baikal fishing rules are Ministry of Agriculture Order No. 226 of 24 April 2020, according to VNIRO.
    Voprosy Rybolovstva / VNIRO
  • Quotas before the ban: Irkutsk Oblast's industrial quota was 300–350 tonnes a year, about 60% used; draft 2017 allowances were 160 tonnes for reproduction and 25 tonnes for research.
    EastRussia
  • Amateur catch was about 110 tonnes a year in 2023–2024 (VNIRO: 116 trips, 550 anglers surveyed) and 185 tonnes in 2025 (Ministry of Natural Resources, via Rossiyskaya Gazeta).
    Rossiyskaya Gazeta
  • Poaching cases in 2026: a charge was filed over the purchase of 1,374 omul worth more than RUB 5 million; 34 fish (about 22 kg) were seized with damage estimated at RUB 246 thousand.
    Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Who gained

Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

Reached nature or the ground

Not published
Research vessel "Vikenty Zaitsev"500m
Window: to 2026
From the government, per the Deputy Prime Minister's office.

Gained elsewhere

Not totalled
Poaching case: purchase of 1,374 omul> 5m
Window: 2026
Value of the purchase named in the charge.
Poaching case: 34 fish seized, estimated damage0.25m
Window: 2026
Currency: RUB · Window: Mixed — see each line. Figures cover different periods and are not compared as a ratio. * Estimate built from cited figures.

Responses on record

  • Rosrybolovstvo (2024–2025): Said in 2024 that additional research was needed and that the decision should follow from its results; in November 2025 expected lifting no earlier than 2027–2029. · Interfax
  • Ministry of Natural Resources (2026): Said in 2026 that the ban is a condition of the population's recovery and that omul is recovering slowly. · Rossiyskaya Gazeta
  • Buryatia Fishing Industry Association (2017): Its head said in 2017 that the new measures were ineffective, that poaching remained and fishing collectives were idle. · Parlamentskaya Gazeta
  • Government of Russia (2023): Deputy Prime Minister Abramchenko said in 2023 that resumption would follow only after releases exceed 1 billion larvae a year. · Interfax

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

  1. 2024Claimant won
    Appeal against the net ban for amateur fishing in the Baikal basin (ruling АПЛ24-400)
    Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, Appeals Board · Administrative · Not named → Not named

    On 10 December 2024 the Appeals Board invalidated the third paragraph of subparagraph 33.1 of the Baikal fishing rules, lifting the ban on nets in amateur fishing across the whole Baikal basin. Voprosy Rybolovstva / VNIRO

  2. 2026–Ongoing
    Selenginsk omul purchase case
    Court not named · Criminal · Not named → A purchaser of 1,374 omul (not named)

    A charge was filed in 2026 over the purchase of 1,374 omul worth more than RUB 5 million. The court and outcome are not on record. Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Insurers

No insurer decision on record.

What nature saw

Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

Stock, 1985–2004 and 2016
23–25 → 14–15 thousand t
Gosrybcenter specialists, via EastRussia
Fish counted, 2024 survey
37 million
Hydroacoustic survey, via Interfax
Larvae released, 2019–2023
≈ 3 billion
Glavrybvod, via Interfax
Reopening date
None set
Not earlier than 2027–2029 per Rosrybolovstvo (November 2025)

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Court ruling existsKey earnings undisclosed

Nature

Accounts

  • Disputed Date for reopening industrial fishing

Record

  • Disputed Figures differ: the omul stock is given as 7,500 tonnes in 2017 (Rosrybolovstvo) and 7.7 thousand tonnes in 2018–2020 (VNIRO Baikal branch); about 8.6 thousand tonnes (Interfax, October 2024) and about 7,000 tonnes (Interfax, February 2025) for the 2024 survey; and about 11,000 tonnes (Rosrybolovstvo, December 2025) and 6.4 thousand tonnes (Ministry of Natural Resources, 2026).
  • Disputed Disputed: the cause of the decline. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Rosrybolovstvo named poaching; an Irkutsk fisheries inspector named cormorants, seals and failure to spawn; VNIRO pointed to amateur net fishing.
  • Disputed Disputed: the order that introduced the ban. A legal database lists Order No. 450 of 29 August 2017; a VNIRO paper cites Order No. 226 of 2017 for the ban and Order No. 226 of 24 April 2020 for the current rules.
  • None on record None on record: compensation amounts paid to fishers or fishing enterprises.
  • Not disclosed Not disclosed: the reconstruction cost of the Bolsherechensky hatchery.
  • Unclear Unclear: real amateur catch volumes in 1991–2005; statistics relied only on licence reports (VNIRO).
  • Unclear Unclear: the date the ban will be lifted — 2023–24, then 2025, then 2027–29, then 2030 in successive statements; none set as of October 2026.

Did the harm stop?

Industrial fishing of omul has been banned since 1 October 2017; amateur fishing was re-allowed with limits in 2022 and the net ban for amateur fishing was invalidated in December 2024. The ban remained in force in October 2026.

Who paid?

Fishing enterprises bore the loss of the commercial catch; no compensation amount is on record. The government funded larvae releases, hatchery reconstruction and a research vessel (almost RUB 500 million).

Sources

Voices on record: — Company or project✓ Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society✓ Researchers

Government and regulators

  1. Order of 29.08.2017 No. 450 amending the Baikal fishing rules (via pravo.ppt.ru)
    Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation · 2017-08-29
  2. Dmitry Patrushev: systematic work will continue
    Government of the Russian Federation · 2026-07-01

Press and investigations

Researchers

Connected cases

Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
Terms used on this page

Bonds and banking

Guarantee
A commitment by a third party, often a development bank, to pay if the borrower does not.
Similar cases
Fishing ban · Protected area / relocation · European Union · 2017–2026
Bottom trawling in European marine protected areas
Same type: Fishing banSame regionHarm to nature disputed
Fishing ban · South Africa · 1997–2018
South African west coast rock lobster quota and WWF court case
Same type: Fishing banCourt: won by claimantHarm to nature disputed
Fishing ban · Iceland · 1982–2026
Whaling after the moratorium (Japan, Norway, Iceland)
Same type: Fishing banSame regionHarm to nature disputed