Russian Ministry of Agriculture Proposes 2027 Restrictions on Northern Shrimp and Sculptured Shrimp Fishing in the Northern Sea of Japan, Plans to Extend Closed Season

The Russian Ministry of Agriculture published a draft order on regulation.gov.ru on October 20, 2026, proposing restrictions on shrimp fishing in the Sea of Japan for 2027. The draft again proposes tighter controls on northern shrimp and sculptured shrimp in specific localized areas and an extension of the closed season for northern shrimp.

According to the draft, in the Primorye subzone (подзона Приморье), fishing for northern shrimp and sculptured shrimp is proposed to be prohibited until the end of 2027 in the following waters: bounded to the south by 46°00′ N, to the north by 47°20′ N, to the west by the continental coastline, and to the east by the boundary between the Primorye subzone and the West Sakhalin subzone (Западно-Сахалинская подзона).

In the West Sakhalin subzone, the draft proposes prohibiting northern shrimp fishing until December 31, 2027 in the following waters: bounded to the south by 48°00′ N, to the north by 48°30′ N, to the west by the boundary between the Primorye subzone and the West Sakhalin subzone, and to the east by the continental coastline.

The draft also stipulates that fishing for scientific research and monitoring purposes is not subject to the above restrictions.

In addition, scientific institutions have recommended prohibiting targeted fishing for northern shrimp in the Primorye and West Sakhalin subzones from February through March (inclusive). Under current fisheries rules, targeted fishing for northern shrimp in the Sea of Japan is already prohibited from April 1 to June 30. The scientific institutions explained that these measures are intended to protect resource stocks.

The report noted that last year's prohibitions took a different form.