From 22 to 27 September, the 8th International Conference "Marine Mammals of the Holarctic" is being held in St. Petersburg. The organizers and active participants of the event are the specialists of the Marine Mammals Council.

The conference is organized with the support of the Government of St. Petersburg, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia, Russian Academy sciences - the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, the Interdepartmental Ichthyological Commission, as well as the International Society for the Study of Marine Mammals.

The International Conference "Marine Mammals of the Holarctic" is held once every two years. On it, scientists exchange experience on the results and methods of the latest zoological research.

The conference is attended by more than 200 specialists from 16 countries - Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, USA, and New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Nigeria and Congo.

"Specialists discuss the results and prospects of scientific research, protection and use of marine mammals of the Northern Hemisphere. Traditionally, special attention is paid to issues of population biology, population assessment and monitoring, behavior and acoustics, physiology, health, rehabilitation of animals and keeping them in captivity. Also within the framework of the conference environmental issues (nutrition, distribution, habitats and migration, etc.) will be considered,” said Natalya Remennikova, press officer of the Council for Marine Mammals.

St. Petersburg was chosen as the venue for the conference not by chance: 2014 has been declared the Year of the Gulf of Finland. The conference will discuss issues related to the environmental problems of the Baltic, including the Gulf of Finland and Ladoga, an exhibition of photographs and video materials will be organized, and the results of the All-Russian competition of children's drawings of sea animals will be summed up.

Within the framework of the conference, the 9th meeting of the Expert Advisory Group on the conservation and study of the Atlantic walrus in the southeast of the Barents Sea and adjacent waters, as well as the discussion "Experience of oil and gas companies in monitoring and reducing the negative impact on marine mammals", round tables "Problems livestock trapping of cetaceans in Russia", "Gray Whale".

In addition, the results of the All-Russian thematic competition of children's drawings will be summed up, exhibitions of author's photographs of members of the Council for Marine Mammals will be opened. Screenings of unique documentary footage and the full-length documentary film Blackfish are planned.

The logo of the Holarctic Marine Mammal Conference features a polar bear. Today in high latitudes there are about 26 thousand of these predators. And every year they are forced to adapt: ​​the climate is warming, the sea ice is melting.

Stanislav Belikov, head of the laboratory of the All-Russian Research Institute of Environmental Protection:

In addition to this main threat, we say that a number of other factors of human impact on the habitat of polar bears can cause irreparable damage to it. This is the development of hydrocarbon raw materials, this is shipping, this is commercial fishing.

By the middle of this century, the global polar bear population may be reduced by 30%. Or harp seals. Commercial fishing should not begin before the females feed their offspring, experts insist.

Cheryl Fink, Director of Wildlife Programs, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Canada:

Climate change is already threatening the survival of harp seals. The mortality rate of cubs is increasing, reproductive rates are decreasing.

10 years ago, the first conference on marine mammals was held in Arkhangelsk. The anniversary is dedicated to the memory of Professor Alexei Yablokov. He studied sea animals and was one of the first to talk about the reassessment of values, the change in man's attitude to nature.

Dmitry Glazov, Deputy Chairman of the Marine Mammal Council:

And we very much hope that the young people, who are participating and are participating more and more in this work, will also be imbued with the spirit of the research that Yablokov and our luminaries began.

The conference program includes a dozen sections and 180 reports. Everyone's red thread: climate change and human activity. The theory of sustainable development, that is, without disturbing the ecosystem, remains only a theory so far.

Vladimir Burkanov, Chairman of the Council for Marine Mammals of the Russian Federation:

For 30 years after all countries, many countries have ratified and accepted this theory, there is not a single example of a country developing steadily, increasing its economy, population and at the same time not harming nature.

The Holarctic is a biogeographic concept. Covers most of the Northern Hemisphere. And here, as in the "butterfly effect" - a flap of the wing in Africa can cause an irreparable catastrophe in the Arctic.

X International Conference"Marine Mammals of the Holarctic", dedicated to the memory of Professor A.V. Yablokov, is an international event, which since 2000 has been organized by the NGO "Council for Marine Mammals" (SMM).

This is scientific and practical conference, held every two years, which brings together leading researchers of marine mammals from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the USA, Canada, Japan, European countries, as well as activists and organizers of societies for the protection of marine animals.

This year the conference will be held from October 29 to November 2 in Arkhangelsk on the basis of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov".

The program of the Conference will include sections and round tables devoted to gray whales, Atlantic walruses, white whales of the White Sea, seals of closed water bodies and a number of other species of marine mammals, their study and protection. Much attention will be paid to the issues of limiting fishing in feeding areas, reducing the negative impact of shipping, the use of fishing nets, exploration and development of offshore oil and gas basins in the Russian Arctic. A problem of a global scale, which will also be discussed, is the pollution of the habitat of marine animals. A special legal section is planned at the Conference. Its tasks will include developing recommendations for improving and filling gaps in legislation on the protection of marine mammals.

This year the Conference will be jubilee, as it is held for the 10th time. Therefore, the reports and speeches will not only highlight the current state, but also summarize the results of the work carried out by Russian organizations and societies for the protection and study of marine mammals in recent years.

I would like to especially note that the Tenth International Conference "Marine Mammals of the Holarctic" is dedicated to the memory of Professor Alexei Vladimirovich Yablokov. Professor A.V. Yablokov made a huge contribution not only to the study of marine animals, but also to the creation of Russian and international movements for their protection and conservation. He became the inspiration and co-founder of the Marine Mammal Council. In memory of Professor A.V. Yablokov, an evening of memory and an exhibition will be organized at the Conference.

Guests of the Conference, in addition to participating in discussions and speeches, will also be able to visit excursions, thematic exhibitions and watch documentaries made by the participants of the Conference.

The Conference became possible with the active support of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov, International Fund for Animal Welfare IFAW, national park"Russian Arctic" and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. A.N. Severtsov RAS. The general sponsors will be PJSC NK Rosneft, Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd, Exxon Neftegaz Limited. The conference was officially sponsored by Yamal LNG OJSC, LUKOIL LLC, Norwegian Polar Institute, North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), North Pacific Wildlife Consulting, Alaska Fisheries Science Center NMFS NOAA, Marine Mammal Commission USA. Sponsorship was also provided by the company PJSC Tatneft named after. VD Shashina and Anapa Dolphinarium. The partners of the conference will be the ANO "Society for the Preservation and Study of Wildlife", the Fund for Support of Applied Ecological Research and Development "Lake Baikal", Kenozersky national park. Monomax LLC is the official service agent of the conference.

Meetings of the NCC on Marine Mammals MIC together with the RPO "Council on Marine Mammals"

Members of the NCC and the SMM were present: (Chairman of the NCC MIK and SMM), corresponding member. RAS (Deputy Chairman of the NCC, Center for Environmental Policy, IBR RAS), Ph.D. (academic sec. NKS MIK), Ph.D. (VNIRO), Ph.D. (IPEE RAS), Doctor of Biological Sciences (IO RAS), (Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia), Ph.D. (MSU), Ph.D. (IPEE RAS), Ph.D. (SevPINRO), (VNIIpriroda), (IPEE RAS), Ph.D. (IO RAS), (VNIRO), Ph.D. (VNIRO), (MGU), (IO RAS), (Committee for Fisheries of the Chukotka Autonomous Region), (VNIRO), Doctor of Technical Sciences (VNIRO-MIK), Ph.D. (IPEE RAS), (MSU), G. Tsydulko (IFAW).

Invitees: (Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia), (Zoo), (IO RAS), (MGU), (IFAW), Ph.D. n. (IO RAS).

Agenda

1. About the first experience of capturing killer whales in Russian waters

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2. Issues of organization of research and monitoring of the Okhotsk-Korean population of gray whales for the years.

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3. On the results of the work of the 55th session of the IWC

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LISTENED: 1. About the first experience of capturing killer whales in Russian waters.

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Questions were asked by: G. Tsydulko, E. Jikia, K. Tarasyan, K. Zharikov.

The following took part in the discussion: M. Krokhin,.

After hearing and discussing information about the first experience of capturing killer whales off the eastern coast of Kamchatka, conducted by the Dolphinarium, the participants of the Meeting noted that although the result of capture was negative (one killer whale died in the nets, and the other a few weeks after capture from the disease), nevertheless, gained valuable experience in capturing and transporting large dolphins over long distances in Russia.

The precedent of capturing killer whales in Russian waters should be considered in two aspects - biological and ethical.

According to experts, from a population-biological point of view, the capture of single individuals cannot harm the population of killer whales in the Far Eastern seas. From an ethical point of view, there are two polar positions. One of them, expressed most actively, is the complete rejection of captive wild animals (in the particular case of large marine mammals). Another, prevailing, is the maintenance of cetaceans in aquariums, while ensuring normal conditions for their maintenance, this is the only opportunity for most people to see amazing animals, feel their charm and develop a sense of responsibility for their conservation in the wild.

It is important for Russia to learn from the successful experience of other countries in keeping killer whales in captivity; in addition, this creates new opportunities for their in-depth study. In particular, the result of the first capture confirmed the need for medical and biological studies of the populations of the species: high titers of antibodies to morbillivirus infections found in the blood of a captured killer whale indicate the potential for a dangerous epizootic.

Taking into account the above, the Scientific Advisory Council for Marine Mammals of the MIC and the RPA "Council for Marine Mammals" consider it necessary:

1. To ask the NCC for marine mammals to develop special instructions for catching, transporting and keeping killer whales, which reflect the requirements for minimizing losses during capture, sanitary-hygienic and humane conditions for temporary overexposure and, especially, transportation of animals.

2. Since the killer whale in the waters of Russia is a relatively little-studied species, it is necessary to draw the attention of scientific organizations of the system of the State Fisheries Committee and the Russian Academy of Sciences to the importance of organizing versatile population studies of killer whales.

3. To ask the State Committee for Fisheries, the Ministry of Industry and Science of the Russian Federation and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research to allocate special funds for the study of this species of marine mammals, and organizations interested in catching and keeping killer whales in captivity to take part in this.

5. Call on the State Committee for Fisheries and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia to take a more careful approach to considering the issue of the number of killer whales and the areas of their possible catch when compiling and reviewing the TAC. Pay special attention to the expediency of catching.

6. Recommend Glavrybvod to regulate the issuance of permits for capturing killer whales, as well as to take into account the availability of qualified specialists, technical means for trapping and transporting animals that ensure the conditions for humane treatment of animals, as well as compliance with all sanitary standards and the possibility of monitoring their condition.

LISTENED 2: On the organization of research on the gray whale of the Western Pacific (Okhotsk-Korean) population in 2004.

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Questions:, G. Tsydulko, .

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DECISION:

1. Having listened to and discussed issues related to the organization of research on the Western Pacific (Okhotsk-Korean) population of the gray whale, the feeding grounds of which coincide with the areas of production and transportation of hydrocarbon raw materials, the Scientific Advisory Board on Marine Mammals of the MIC welcomes the efforts of the oil company Sakhalin Energy » to organize an open discussion of the research program. However, the program development process will be unnecessarily delayed, which may result in the loss of the 2004 summer season (while construction work on the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 projects will continue in the summer and autumn of 2004).

2. To complete the complex research work 2004 to study and monitor this population, it is necessary to ensure effective coordination of research on these whales in the waters of northeastern Sakhalin. The implementation of programs funded by Sakhalin Energy and Exxon Neftegaz must be clearly agreed upon in terms of content, scope, timing and methodology.

The current situation in the field of coordination and funding of research, as well as the lack of programs and scientific reports of some performers, makes it necessary to apply to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia with a proposal to instruct the Interdepartmental Ichthyological Commission to develop within three months the policy document "National Strategy for the Study and Conservation of the Okhotsk-Korean population of gray whale”, which could form the basis of an international program. When planning activities in the field of research and monitoring of the Okhotsk-Korean population of gray whales, take into account that at present, work on the operational coordination of the Russian national gray whale research program recommended by the IWC and carried out by Far Eastern and other research institutes is carried out by VNIRO. Establish a strategic research planning group for gray whales in the NCC on marine mammals of the MIC for an objective assessment of the content of existing scientific programs, methodologies, research plans and reporting materials. Ask to lead this group and submit proposals on its composition (including representatives of VNIRO, IO RAS, RosNII KPN, IFAW, etc.) and a work plan. Appeal to Sakhalin Energy, Exxon Neftegaz, IFAW and WWF with a proposal to take part in financing the development of the National Strategy for the Study and Conservation of the Okhotsk-Korean Gray Whale Population. Apply to Sakhalin Energy and Exxon Neftegaz with a letter on the need to ensure proper coordination of work within the framework of their research and monitoring programs funded by gray whales, accelerate the development of a new international program and more quickly present the results of ongoing research to the public.

LISTENED 3: On the results of the work of the 55th session of the IWC

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Questions:, V. A, Zemsky.

The following took part in the discussion:,

DECISION:

Chairman of the Scientific Advisory

Marine Mammal Council MIC

prof. d.b.s.

Uch. NCC secretary

Marine Mammals MIC

The Scientific Advisory Council for Marine Mammals was formed in 1956 and became the first body of its kind within the Ichthyological Commission. In different periods, the Council was headed by well-known mammologists - specialists in marine mammals, Doctors of Science S.E. Kleinenberg, V.A. Zemsky, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Yablokov. The permanent scientific secretary of the council was Ph.D. n. I.V. Smelov.

The great attention shown to marine mammals was due to the special place that they occupy in marine ecosystems, being, in fact, the top link in the food chain, and thus have a significant impact on other components of ecosystems. Maintaining the abundance of these animals is an indispensable condition for the normal functioning of specific marine ecosystems. Marine mammals are a valuable and sometimes indispensable species of commercial bioresources. Whales, seals, walruses in many cases are a vital object of life support and even survival of the small peoples of the Far North.

The Soviet Union was actively fishing for whales (flotillas "Aleut", "Slava", "Yuri Dolgoruky"), seals (these animals, like walruses, have long been hunted by Pomors, the aboriginal population in the seas of the Arctic and Pacific Oceans) and for some time Black Sea dolphins . In the years after the Second World War, whale and pinniped fishing became the object of attention and regulation by regional and specialized organizations of an interethnic and international nature (for example, the Whaling Commission). The participation of the USSR (Russia) in these regulatory bodies provided for the organization of the collection and analysis of scientific data on the biology and fishing of mined objects, the formation on this basis of the concept of sustainable use of the raw material base of the hunting and whaling.

All this taken together predetermined the need for the creation of the NCC on marine mammals, which was entrusted with the coordination of research on these animals, conducted by scientific and other institutions of various departments of the country. The successful fulfillment of these tasks was facilitated by the participation in the work of the NCS of leading scientists and specialists specializing in the study and rational use of marine mammals (corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Yablokov, academician V.E. Sokolov, doctors of sciences V.A. Zemsky, V. M. Belkovich, A. S. Sokolov, K. K. Chapsky, A. G. Tomilin, R. G. Borodin, and many other scientists and specialists of basin institutes and the Academy of Sciences).

The Council succeeded in bringing together and consolidating the efforts of mammologists working in a wide range of research areas within the framework of the programs developed by the NCC for the study of certain species of marine mammals, integrated, long-term and sectoral programs for research and rational use of stocks of cetaceans and pinnipeds.

An important and effective form of research coordination was the meetings and conferences of the All-Union (All-Russian)
and international status. At these forums, which were attended not only by scientists, but also by practitioners, a wide range of problems in the study of marine mammals and the rational use of their stocks, programs and plans for future research were discussed. In total, during the period under review, they were held
11 All-Union Conferences. The first All-Union Conference took place in 1957.
in Moscow. The geographical range of the meetings was very wide: Leningrad, Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, Makhachkala, Moscow, Kyiv, Simferopol, Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk, Svetlogorsk. The NCC organized eight international conferences "Marine Mammals of the Holarctic" (2000-2014) to discuss research results and achievements in the study and conservation of marine mammals.

In addition to such broad forums, the NCC regularly held meetings dedicated to individual topical issues study and protection of certain species of marine mammals. In particular, the results of studies of academic and branch institutes were considered within the framework of the “Main directions of scientific research on the study and rational use of biological resources of marine mammals until the year 2000”; the role of marine mammals as consumers of the highest trophic level in the ecosystems of the Far Eastern Seas; population status
and numbers different types cetaceans in various regions and water areas; production limits (and their change) of commercial species; the impact on the populations of marine mammals of various types of fishing for fish, kelp and other objects; methods for modeling populations of some species of marine mammals and ways of their rational use; long-term plans for marine mammal research; the results of research carried out at institutes of various departments; the work of international commissions (ICC, Russian-Norwegian, Russian-Swedish, ICES, etc.) in the field of study and use of marine mammals; consideration of coordinating plans for research work on various problems of studying marine mammals. A significant place in the work of the NCC was occupied by the consideration of various environmental aspects, anthropogenic impact on the ecosystems of the World Ocean, including marine mammals.

Among the important achievements of scientists of our country in the field of studying marine mammals, it is necessary to indicate the development of methods for objective accounting of the number of a number of animal species that have received worldwide recognition (aerial census methods).

The development of the proposed methodology was carried out in the White Sea, the harp seals were the object of registration.

The NCC and its members took an active part in accounting work, supervised their implementation, considered their plans and programs, and even financial reports.

A wide discussion of the results obtained confirmed the promise of the new technique, which gave grounds to recommend it for use on other species of marine mammals in other basins of the country.

The Council took part in the preparation and analysis of scientific materials
and recommendations necessary for the formation of the official position of the USSR-RF delegations participating in the annual sessions of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The activities of the NCC received support from a number of international organizations: the Association of Marine Mammals (IMMA), the Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the US Marine Mammal Commission and the Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The NCC was preparing justifications for granting quotas to the indigenous peoples of Chukotka for the traditional aboriginal hunting of gray and bowhead whales. These justifications and annual reports on the results of the fishery were recognized by the IWC as one of the best and recommended as an example to other countries.

Special attention of the NCC was paid to the problem of conservation of marine mammals in the face of growing anthropogenic pressure, including the intensification of seismic surveys, assessment of the impact of oil and gas production on the Okhotsk
Korean population of gray whales.

An objective assessment of the consequences of seismic surveys for biota showed the need for close attention to this problem, for which the Gray Whale Research Strategic Planning Group was established in 2004, which prepared a note “On the catastrophic state of the Okhotsk-Korean gray whale population
and measures to save her. It described the situation with the gray whale
and corrected measures to preserve this population (introduced
in the Red Book as a specially protected species). The note was sent to the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Minister of Nature of the Russian Federation and the Chairman of the State Committee for Fisheries of the Russian Federation. This problem was under the constant attention of the council; it was discussed at many international conferences (including the conference “Marine Mammals of the Holarctic” organized by the NCC), NCC proposals (with justification and calculations), based on the discussion of the results of gray whale research, were sent to the heads of oil companies. As a result, oil companies postponed work to other dates, changed work routes, and followed other NCC recommendations. How important the problem of the gray whale is is also indicated by the fact that the International Analytical Group on the Impact of Oil Development on this Population (ISRP) was created. Scientific and public organizations and authorities of countries,
in the waters of which life cycle this population (Russia, China, North Korea
and Japan), it was recommended that an international program be established to study, monitor and restore the western California gray whale population.

A significant place in the activities of the NCC was occupied by problems related to
with the study and protection of the beluga whale. This species is under the supervision of the Federal Agency for Fisheries.

An analysis of the results of studies obtained in 11 expeditions, which worked under the supervision of the NCC, showed that data on the structure of the beluga whale population, the peculiarities of the seasonal use of different parts of the range by this species, the role of reproductive aggregations in which population regulation is carried out, etc., are of particular value. Eight reproductive aggregations of beluga whales with a total number of 1200 animals were found in the White Sea. Since no areas of reproduction of beluga whales were found in the Barents Sea, this gave grounds to consider this sea only as a feeding and wintering place for beluga whales in the White and Kara Seas.

Based on the analysis of the research results, materials were prepared
with an assessment of the status of individual herds of beluga whales in the World Ocean, which were sent
to the Federal Agency for Fishery and the State Committee for Ecology of the Russian Federation for the regulation of fishing (production should not exceed 5% of the herd). On the recommendation of the NCC, the Government of Russia revoked the previously issued permit for commercial fishing for export and recognized the expediency of maintaining only aboriginal fishing and catching belugas for scientific purposes (1999).

Taking into account the importance of the role of marine mammals in marine ecosystems, the NCC also considered legal issues, sought the adoption of a special law on marine mammals, gave opinions on the inclusion of various animal species in the scope of CITES (in particular, sea lions, Black Sea bottlenose dolphins, minke whales, gray whales, etc.). .).

The Council paid attention to assessing the impact of changes in the state of the ice cover in the Arctic on certain species of marine mammals, in particular the Atlantic
and Pacific walrus.

The NCC did not ignore the Caspian seal either. Considering the problems that these animals face today, the council should have noted the insufficient level of study of this species, the lack of a reliable population count, the insufficiently clarified significance of the factors that caused the decline in their numbers, as well as the need for urgent and coordinated action by all Caspian states.

The NCC has studied the issue of keeping marine mammals in captivity. Rules for keeping animals in dolphinariums were developed, which were intended to be submitted to the State Duma for the adoption of a special law (reflecting issues of human dolphin therapy, cultural and educational aspects, etc.).

The publishing activity of the NCC was aimed at publishing materials
and abstracts of reports of conferences and meetings, in total more than 250 printed sheets were published. Members of the NCC prepared and published several monographs and books, published a large number of articles on various aspects of the problems of marine mammals, prepared many proposals, recommendations, conclusions regarding the study and rational use of marine mammals.