Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a federal law that dramatically simplifies the procedure for conducting traditional fishing for the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East (KMNS). The innovation is aimed at removing excessive bureaucratic barriers and supporting the unique way of life of these communities, for whom fishing is the basis of existence and cultural identity.
The new order, which will enter into force on September 1, 2026, introduces the so-called “non-declaration principle.” This means that indigenous representatives will no longer have to apply annually for fishing quotas. Previously, this procedure created serious difficulties: any mistake in paperwork or a slight delay in submitting an application could become a formal reason for refusal, depriving people of the opportunity to engage in traditional fishing.
Now the right to catch aquatic biological resources will be granted automatically on the basis of a special register. The Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs is responsible for maintaining this list of persons belonging to small indigenous peoples. Thus, belonging to an indigenous people, confirmed by inclusion in the official list, will be sufficient grounds for fishing within the established limits.
The limits themselves, that is, the annual catch rates indicating specific types of fish and their volumes, will continue to be set. This task will be jointly solved by the authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo). This approach will take into account both the needs of indigenous communities and the need to conserve aquatic biological resources in each specific region.
The law also provides for a transitional period for those who, for whatever reason, have not yet been included in the federal list. The allocation of quotas for such persons according to the old application scheme will be possible until December 31, 2026, and it will be possible to carry out fishing on these grounds until January 1, 2028. This will give people enough time to settle their official status without interrupting their traditional economic activities.