VNII «Ecology», IPEE RASMarine tourism, its impact on the polar bear and theOkhotsk Sea population of the Bowhead whale, andthe regulatory framework
Belikov S., Shpak O., Gnedenko A., Chernyshova D.

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) live in ice-covered waters throughout the Arctic,
where they prey primarily on ice-bound seals.
The remoteness of their habitats in Arctic sea ice has historically led to fewer
interactions with humans compared to other bear species.
However, in recent years, the number and duration of polar bears' stay on land
have increased as a result of the reduction in the area of summer sea ice.

In some areas, there has been a noticeable increase in the interaction of the animal
with people, including as a result of the intensification of tourism and recreation. Thereview (Rode et al., 2018) lists five potential consequences of exposure to tourist andrecreational activities on polar bears: 1) short-term or long-term displacement fromthe habitat, 2) behavior change, 3) protection of human life and cases of shooting theanimal in collisions with people, 4) abandonment of shelters 5) addiction, which canlead to increased conflicts between a man and a bear.

Based on the findings and recommendations of Rode et al (2018) and otherpublications, the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group issued the following resolution at its
last online meeting in June 2021:
Recognizing that polar bear viewing conducted on-foot, by tundra vehicles,
snowmobiles, boats, cruise ships, drones, and aircraft is an important component of thenorthern tourism economy, but also a source of potentially negative human-bearinteractions; andRecognizing concern among local communities, managers, and scientists that viewingbased tourism could increase polar bear habituation to people, reduce a bear’s normal
level of caution, and consequently increase dangerous interactions; andRecognizing that increasing loss of sea ice habitat as a result of ongoing climate
warming is resulting in higher numbers of food-stressed polar bears fasting on land for
longer periods of time and that this increases the potential for negative human-bearinteractions; andRecognizing that increasingly food-stressed human-conditioned bears may be lesslikely to be deterred using typical non-lethal methods; andRecognizing that potential impacts of polar bear-based tourism are poorly studied;
therefore
Recommends that the Range States and other organizations coordinate
development or refinement of guidelines to ensure the safest possible
management of polar bear viewing tourism and urges the Range States andrelevant agencies to initiate studies on how different types of tourism practices
may be influencing polar bears and develop procedures to minimize the effects of
tourists on polar bears, and only increase viewing activities if such actions aredeemed to be in accordance with scientifically sound conservation practices

Rode et al (2018)

Measures to minimize the negative impact of tourism on the polar bear have beendeveloped and are being improved in many areas of the foreign Arctic.
For example, Svalbard has established snowmobile routes to minimize disturbance inthe spring, and strict legislation to protect bears from disturbance.
In Alaska, the Arctic Wildlife Refuge has developed best practices for observing polar
bears and established a permitting process for commercial tours of polar bear habitats
on land and in water.

Analysis of materials on tourism in the regions of the Russian Arctic, where thepolar bear is present, shows that:- in such areas, many tourists use every opportunity to take a closer look andphotograph the animal, but often neglect safety measures- only in the Arctic state reserves and national parks, where tourism is especially
active, are measures taken to prevent the negative impact of tourism on the polarbear. However, the question is, are they sufficient and what needs to be done tofurther improve them?

Legal framework at the national level for the conservation of polar bears in Russiaafter the introduction of a hunting ban since 1957

The most important for the conservation of polar bears are:•Federal Laws "On Protection of the Environment" (2002), "On Wildlife" (1995), "On
Natural Protected Areas" (1995)•"Strategy for the Conservation of Rare, Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungiin the Russian Federation until 2030" (2014)•Listing the polar bear in the Federal and regional Red Data Books

In Russia, activities related to ecological tourism are regulated by legislative acts, amon
which the law "On the foundations of tourist activities in the Russian Federation" shouldbe mentioned.
In 2020, in Russia, in accordance with the federal project "Conservation of Biodiversity
and Development of Ecological Tourism", the polar bear is included as one of theindicators of the Arctic environment. Another 12 species and populations, including theSea of Okhotsk population of bowhead whales, are included in the federal project. For
all species and populations included in the federal project, draft Conservation andRestoration Strategies have been developed.

In the draft Strategy for the Conservation of Polar Bears in the Russian Federation,
which is being approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, considerable
attention is paid to the development and implementation of a program for thedevelopment of ecological tourism in areas where polar bears are common.
There is a need for clear and understandable rules for tourists visiting the places of stayof polar bears, behavior when meeting with an animal, as well as environmental
education in order to prevent feeding animals.

Within the framework of these programs, it should be provided to reduce thedisturbance factor for polar bears, exclude certain areas, and prohibit visits to dens inthe spring.
To ensure the safety of tourists, it is necessary to provide them with personal protective
equipment against a possible attack of the beast.
Personnel accompanying tourists must be trained in the use of personal protective
equipment, and all rules and restrictions are communicated to travel companies
organizing tours to the Arctic, after which repeated violations are practically notallowed.

Thus, the task is to createa modern, competitive andenvironmentally safe
tourist complex, which, on
the one hand, provides
ample opportunities tomeet the aesthetic,
cognitive and recreational
needs of Russian andforeign citizens, on theother hand, a contribution
to the development of thesystem for the preservationof Arctic naturalcomplexes.

OKHOTSK SEA:POLAR WHALES FROMTHE BROWN BEAR LANDENDANGERED,(CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
status pending)The bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) of the Okhotsk Sea comprise a small,isolated population, which occupies the southernmost region of the species’
range.
They never leave the Okhotsk Sea and spend summers in its western part, at thelatitude of Moscow, in the mainland bays to the south of Shantar IslandsArchipelago. The population is IUCN-Red-listed as Endangered, and if declining
trend is confirmed, it will be categorised as Critically Endangered.

‘SHANTAR ISLANDS’ TOURIST DESTINATION
HAS TURNED INTO WHALE-WATCHING MECCA

Ten years ago, rare and small Russian tourist groups have visited the area to see the remoteand “mystic” Shantar Islands. Marine mammals were hardly mentioned as attraction.
Starting 2015, after a tourist base was established in the cove near Wrangel cape, wherebowhead whales concentrate quite predictably and in large numbers, whale-watching andswim-with-whales tours quickly superseded other types of adventure tourism, with both
Russian and international tourists and film-crews overbooking small local tourist businesses.
Cruise ships now also deviate from their regular routes to show the whales. Zodiac-driven
whale-watching tours from large cruise-liners are now advertised as a zest of the cruise andsoon may crowd up the cove in addition to already numerous tourist boats belonging to local
tour operators.
SUP-boarders, divers and free-swimmers spend days in the water with whales. In recent twoyears, another known place of bowhead whale aggregation became a spot for the second
whale-watching camp. With a fast development of tourism, especially in the time ofpandemic, when most popular destinations are closed, bowhead whale-watching in theShantar region will spread into all known spots where whales come close to shore and canbe approached. With plans to improve Shantar travel logistics by building an air-strip on theBig Shantar Island, the number of tourists may further increase in the order of magnitude
within the next 3-4 years.

BUSINESS VERSUS CONSERVATION
Khabarovsk Government stimulates mining industry, commercial fishing, shipping andtourism in the western Okhotsk Sea
National Park “Shantar Islands” sets tourism development as priority task
No unified system to define critical habitats for endangered species and regulate
industrial development in such areas
No special laws/rules to regulate Whale-watching
No regulations for shipping in marine-mammal hotspots

BUSINESS VERSUS CONSERVATION

Khabarovsk Government has taken course on industrial and tourism
development in the western Okhotsk Sea. The system of protectedareas in Russia (Zapovedniks, reserves, national parks) is also
undergoing dangerous changes by setting priority of tourism
development over preserving biodiversity.
The conflict of industrial (including tourism) development andconservation of nature may only be solved by implementing effective
and transparent regulations for business and preserving at least mostcritical habitats for endangered species and high biodiveristy spots. No
regulations, except for very general federal laws concerning biodiversity,exist to-date.

BUSINESS AND CONSERVATION
Ministry of Nature Resources and Ecology
Federal Project Conservation of Biological Diversity and Ecological Tourism Development
Initiative Business and Biodiversity

EXPERT SECTION CREATED IN 2021
• Development and implementation of Conservation Strategy (at prefinal draft stage)• Scientific support for the preparation of biodiversity conservation
programs for commercial organizations• Raising of extrabudgetary resources and funds for conservation ofendangered whales
The Ultimate goal is conserving the biodiversity (in our case: Okhotsk
Bowhead whales) and sustainable development of the region

IMPORTANT: CONSERVATION ≠ BUSINESSIn 2021, the Ministry of Nature Resources and Ecology established Cetacean expert section inthe framework of the Federal Project “Conservation of Biological Diversity and EcologicalTourism Development” and “Business and Biodiversity” initiative. The National Strategy for theconservation of the Okhotsk Bowhead whale population has been drafted, and now is at it’s final
stage of development. The Section includes scientists, conservationists as well as representativesof business and fisheries institute. In tense discussions between the opposing sides, it is crucial
to find a solution, which would not be “stillbirth”, but an effective compromise to savebiodiversity and support sustainable development of the region.URGENT MEASURES (TOURISM)
2021-2022 project funded by WWF-Russia▪

Defining critical habitats▪

Assessing tourist activities and impact▪

Establishing system of monitoring tourist activities▪

Tourist / boat number restrictions▪

Regulation of boat-based whale-watching (rules)▪

Restriction of “swim-with-whales” options▪

Creation of MPAs and Rest (tourist-free) zones in critical habitats▪

Regulations on using drones over whales▪

Regulations on waste and chemical discharge from coastal bases▪

Broad education programmes for tourist operators▪

Raising general public awarenessConservation actions in relation to fast developing tourism must be taken
responsibly and urgently.
The WWF-Russia has chosen the bowhead whale as a target-species and in 2021
initiated the project aimed at assessing the impact of tourism at one of the major
bowhead whale hotspots, whale-watching “capital” of the Okhotsk Sea – Wrangel
Cove in the Shantar region.
The following actions should be considered as priority for development andimplementation: (slide).
It is important to set a constructive dialog with the whale-watching operators,
because their business is inseparable from the well-being of the bowhead whale
population. If the whales leave, this business will die.

Thank you foryour attention!