This directive aims to minimise the potential negative influence, reduce the existing anthropogenic load, preserve the biodiversity of the unique environment of Lake Baikal and ensure the most rational use of the potential opportunities to develop protected territories.
Reference
Submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment.
In accordance with the amendments introduced by Federal Law №181-FZ of 28 June, 2014 into Part 1 of Article 3 of Federal Law on the Protection of Lake Baikal, the borders of the water conservation and fishery protection zones shall be endorsed by the Government.
Article 65 of the Water Code defines water conservation zones as territories adjacent to water bodies, which are subject to special regulations of economic and other activities, with a view to preventing the pollution and the depletion of waters and preserving their bio-resource environment.
Article 48 of Federal Law on Fisheries and Protection of Water Bio-Resources defines fishery protection zones as territories adjacent to waters of commercial fishing importance that are subject to restrictions on economic and other activities, with a view to preserving conditions for the reproduction of aqua bio-resources.
To minimise the potential negative influence, reduce the anthropogenic load, preserve the biodiversity of the unique environment of Lake Baikal and ensure the most rational use of the potential opportunities to develop the protected territories, the signed directive (endorsed by the Government’s Directive №1641-r of 27 November 2006) has established the water protection zone by the border of the Central Environmental Zone of Lake Baikal, given that this border passes on specially protected natural areas by the watershed divide.
The fisheries protection zone shall be 500-metres wide. The Federal Water Resources Agency and the Federal Fisheries Agency shall ensure the deployment of special informational signs in the zone.
The adopted decisions are aimed at preserving the environment of Lake Baikal and implementing the commitments placed on the Russian Federation by the status of Lake Baikal as a site on the UNESCO World Heritage list.