The new rules for recreational fishing will only summarize existing standards in this area. About this "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" said the head of the department of control, supervision and fish protection Rosrybolovstva Vitaly Molokov.

According to him, the restrictions prescribed in the new law are already in effect in Russia.

“All restrictions for amateur fishing have already been established by the fishing rules for individual basins - the Eastern, Northern, Baikal, Yenisei and others,” said Molokov.

In particular, it is forbidden to use electric fishing rods, as they cause serious damage to the environment, killing all living things to the very bottom of the reservoir, as well as explosives. Gill nets are also prohibited. However, they can be used by residents of the Far North, Siberia and the Far East, for whom fishing is the main source of nutrition.

Thus, there is a certain list of prohibited fishing gear that can expand and narrow for each specific reservoir, explained Vitaly Molokov.

The new bill was the result of long work, said Nikolai Nikolaev, chairman of the State Duma committee on natural resources, property and land relations, in an interview with RT.

“This is a long-awaited law, it affects many people, therefore serious discussions were held. What happened now is a balanced bill. It is necessary that the entire regulatory framework and infrastructure be ready. It is important that people know where they can, for example, use networks, register and label them, ”said the deputy.

  • RIA News
  • © Alexey Malgavko

According to Nikolaev, in Russia there is an acute problem of poaching fishing, its percentage in the total production is quite large. In many ways, to combat it, it is necessary to achieve the correct implementation of the law, he stressed.

“Previously, we simply did not have an amateur fishing law. Now there are these reasonable and, I would say, hard-won norms that should help restore order in this area, ”he said.

Earlier, Rosrybolovstvo spoke about the new rules of amateur fishing, which will enter into force in 2020. In addition to the ban on a number of fishing gear, daily catch rates for Russian regions and restrictions on spearfishing are introduced. In addition, it is forbidden to fish in water bodies intended for its breeding.

A ban is also introduced on the circulation of gill nets among the population and their mandatory registration and labeling in areas where they are allowed for use.

The new standards are developed in the framework of the law “On amateur fishing”, which was adopted by the State Duma at the end of 2018 and will enter into force in December 2020.

The main innovation of the law was the establishment of the rule on free and free fishing in all reservoirs, except for those where fish are grown for free. Fishing is also prohibited on the “lands of defense and security” and specially protected natural areas.

Also, according to the law, the so-called “fishing areas” that were previously allocated for recreational fishing are subject to closure. All of them should be closed by December 31, 2020. An exception will be made only for some areas in the basins of the North, Siberia and the Far East.

“These are sites that, in fact, perform environmental functions: they cultivate and protect especially valuable fish species and allow fishing solely on the basis of the“ catch-let-go ”principle. The list of such sites will be determined by the government on the proposal of the heads of regions, ”Nikolay Nikolaev commented on this measure.

According to a survey conducted by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) in 2017, 26% of Russians consider themselves fishermen. Fishing is even more widespread as a type of leisure; it is especially popular among young people.

“Young respondents (38% aged 25 to 34 years old) are more often recognized as fishing enthusiasts, but among those over 60, this type of recreation is chosen twice less often - 18%. A total of 46% of Russians reported on a personal passion for fishing or on a hobby for family members, ”the organization said.

"The law takes into account the interests of amateur fishermen, of which there are more than 20 million in Russia," Nikolaev said.