Larga, or spotted seal, is the only marine mammal that breeds in the Far East Marine Reserve. Mass breedings begin in the second half of winter on the islands of the Rimsky-Korsakov archipelago. Most spotted seals have been absent from protected waters for more than five months, migrating more than a thousand kilometers north to Sakhalin, or south to the Korean Peninsula.
Largas began to move into Peter the Great Bay at the end of October. Soon, when ice forms on the sea, they will actively feed on saffron cod and smelt. By mid-January, the Rimsky-Korsakov archipelago will turn into a kind of "maternity hospital" for seals.
"According to experts, such a scheme for using space has developed historically among spotted seals and is already fixed at the genetic level. The safety of the waters of the reserve, which is under round-the-clock protection of state inspectors, also plays its role in the" eternal return," the Ministry of Natural Resources said.
Monitoring of seasonal migrations of spotted seals in Peter the Great Bay has been carried out for many years. Specialists use radio beacons and simple marking of individuals. In 2021, monitoring has reached a new level: three modern cameras with more than 30x zoom and the ability to turn in the right direction are installed on one of the islands. The cameras are controlled remotely from a smartphone. They make it possible to obtain previously inaccessible, detailed data on the terrestrial life of spotted seals without disturbing them.
Participants discussed the boundary between nature and ecotourism, whether mass visits to unique areas can remain safe, the responsibilities of investors, and how to prepare tourists for visiting specially protected natural areas.
The head of state expressed confidence that the Forum will be held at a high level, and that its results will contribute to the development of tourism in Russia and the expansion of humanitarian and business ties.
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