"They eat too much fish." Seal hunting may be revived in two Russian regions.
In Arkhangelsk и Murmansk region The seal trade could be revived. The initiative came from the Arctic and was supported by the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Fisheries of the Parliamentary Association of Northwest Russia.
The author of the initiative is a deputy of the Murmansk Regional Duma from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Stepakhno He explained The meaning of the sentence: seals eat a lot of fish, and they also make steaks from them - "incredibly delicious."
The Arkhangelsk regional government supported the initiative, claiming that seal meat and blubber products are in demand. They cited the traditional nature of the trade: Lomonosov's father led a seal-hunting team, and Mikhail Lomonosov arrived in Moscow with a convoy of seal skins and blubber.
“During the Great Patriotic War, hunting expeditions were organized in Arkhangelsk, and seal meat and fat were obtained saved from starvation and the cold of thousands of people in need"- held An excursion into the history of the regional government.
Researchers at the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) note that the harp seal population in the White Sea has increased to such an extent that it's time to regulate it. Authorities believe that reviving full-scale seal hunting could help local residents with jobs, finances, and "reduce social tension."
According to authorities in the Pomor regions, seals are still being harvested, but in limited quantities. Until 2025, the maximum harvest was 14 seals. In 2025, 42,5 seals could have been killed in the White Sea, but by 2026, this number had dropped to 39,3. These numbers will increase after the official resumption of the hunt.
Meanwhile, animal rights activists launched petition against the hunting industry. At the moment, it has been signed by more than 37 200 people.
Photo: 29.RU
