The Whale Sanctuary Project has issued the following statement regarding the continuing efforts to return to the ocean all the beluga whales still housed at the “whale jail” on Russia’s Far East coast. (For a pdf copy of the letter in Russian and English, go here.)
October 24, 2019
Statement from Jean-Michel Cousteau and Charles Vinick
We are pleased to see that the Russian Government, the Scientific Consilium, and the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) continue their efforts to release all the cetaceans held in captivity in Srednyaya Bay before the close of navigation season. Releasing the cetaceans is the best outcome for the welfare of the cetaceans themselves. To date, 10 orcas and 37 belugas have been released, meaning that 50 belugas must still be released. We understand that the Scientific Consilium recommends releasing the belugas in the area of Uspeniya Bay, near Lazovsky Nature Preserve.
This outcome is not ideal for the belugas, since this is not their normal habitat or the area where they were captured. Nonetheless, we trust the intention of Russian government authorities to release the belugas, despite limitations due to the availability of ships, inadequate finances, and weather conditions.
We believe it is very important and call on the Russian government to carry out short- and long-term monitoring of the activity of the 50 belugas after their release; we hope that the location will make it possible to carry out regular visual monitoring of the belugas for a full 30 days after release and actively over the first six months after release. We also hope that visual monitoring will help reduce concerns about threats from North Korean fishing vessels that we understand are poaching in the area and that the Russian government will do what is necessary to protect the belugas from repeat capture.
We also ask the Russian government to include independent Russian observers on both ships conducting the release and to publicize photo- and video-documentation of the beluga release as soon as possible after the release.
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Founder and President
Ocean Futures Society
Charles Vinick
Executive Director
The Whale Sanctuary Project
1 Comment
Thank you for your efforts, and Russia’s efforts. Now the work begins to see it doesn’t happen again. Although not the best outcome for the whales, being released in a habitat unlike their own, it is a far cry better than where they were destined. I think we can all call it a win.