Federation Council senators have approved the law prohibiting commercial and in-shore capture of cetaceans, as well as the capture of marine mammals for educational and cultural awareness purposes.

The federal law complements the law on fisheries with the article, Harvest (Capture) of Marine Mammals.

Part 1 of this article says that the harvest (capture) of marine mammals is permitted if it is not prohibited or restricted by the Law on Fisheries. According to Part 2 of this article, the capture of marine mammals for educational and cultural awareness purposes is conducted in accordance with Article 332 of the Law on Fisheries, which states that a decision must be made by a commission created by the Russian Government to allow the harvest (capture) of marine mammals for educational and cultural purposes. The decision of the commission is published online within five days from its adoption by the federal body of executive authority engaged in fisheries. The composition of the commission and its rules of procedure are approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The federal law introduces amendments according to which the aquatic biological resources captured for educational and cultural awareness purposes are used by the educational and research organisations during the education process, and by cultural institutions when doing cultural awareness work.