An inspection has been conducted by the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the central office of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor), regarding 25 applications for CITES certificates submitted to Rosprirodnadzor for the export of 25 white whales.

The applications were submitted to obtain permits to export white whales from the country. Supporting documents said that permission to catch marine animals was granted by the Federal Agency for Fishery (Rosrybolovstvo) for cultural and educational purposes.

As a result of the inspection, Rosprirodnadzor declined to issue CITES permits (certificates) for exporting white whales.

The environmental protection prosecutor's office in Vladivostok has launched an inspection of the conditions and purpose of keeping marine mammals in Srednyaya Bay, as well as the legality of catching them. According to the office, currently several dozen white whales and 11 killer whales are being kept in enclosures in the bay.