The Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Oceanology will approach the State Duma with a request to introduce a law prohibiting tourists from pursuing beluga whales in areas where they breed. This announcement was made by Vsevolod Belkovich, from the Marine Mammal Laboratory of the Institute of Oceanology.

"It is necessary to amend Russia's fishing code by adopting a provision that would ban any disturbing activities in beluga whale breeding waters, including any seismic work during this period," Mr Belkovich emphasised. "These areas should be protected throughout the entire Arctic region both at the federal and regional levels."

Beluga whale breeding periods last from spring to autumn. The whales come near the coast to mate and bear their young. This attracts attention and people follow these marine mammals in boats, which has a very negative impact on the number of whales being reproduced. This assertion is borne out by the research done in the Beluga Cape area at Solovetsky Island in the White Sea.