An alarming video posted on the Kamchatka telegram channel “Kamchatka Mass Media” caused a wide public outcry and attracted the attention of the authorities. The footage shows heavy machinery, including excavators, loaders and tractors, carrying out large-scale excavation work right in the riverbed. Particular suspicion is aroused by the fact that all the equipment involved does not have state registration numbers, which may indicate the criminal nature of the activity.
The events unfold on the western coast of Kamchatka, near the mouth of the Khomutina River. The authors of the video suggest that they witnessed preparations for mass poaching. In their opinion, the attackers are purposefully creating a new, artificial river mouth. This trick is necessary to circumvent the law: completely blocking the official channel with networks is a criminal offense and is easily provable. The creation of a new channel makes it possible to disguise it as a natural phenomenon and subsequently block it for the total catch of fish going to spawn.
The timing of these works is of particular concern. In just a few weeks, pink salmon will begin to flow into the rivers of Kamchatka, followed by other species of Pacific salmon. Closer to winter, coho salmon will spawn, whose caviar is considered one of the most valuable and expensive. Illegal actions can cause irreparable damage to the population of valuable fish species and the entire ecosystem of the region. In fact, a giant trap is being prepared on the river, capable of destroying entire generations of salmon.
The reaction of the official authorities was immediate. The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kamchatka Territory announced the start of an investigation into the publication. Alexey Yurkov, Deputy Minister and Head of the State Environmental Supervision Department, assured the public that the situation had been brought under control. “An appropriate hearing will be held. In the absence of legal grounds for carrying out the work, the necessary response measures will be taken,” he said. Now, experts must identify the organizers of the work and assess the damage caused to nature.