Federal Law No. 57-FZ amending Federal Law of the Russian Federation on Wildlife (No. 52-FZ of 1995) and Federal Law No. 166-FZ on fisheries and conservation of aquatic biological resources.

Article 59 of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation on Wildlife (No. 52-FZ of 1995) shall acquire a new wording: “Article 59. Seizure of illegally procured wildlife species and hunting gear Illegally procured wildlife species and derivates thereof, and also hunting gear, including carriers, shall be subject to seizure without compensation or confiscation in accordance with the Russian legislation. Seized or confiscated wildlife species shall be returned into environment and in case of the impossibility to do so the aforesaid wildlife species and the derivates thereof shall be subject to sale or destruction in accordance with the Russian legislation. Seizure or confiscation shall not exonerate the citizens who have illegally procured wildlife species from compensation of damage caused to wildlife species or to their natural habitats. Destruction of seized or confiscated aquatic biological resources pertaining to sturgeon and salmon species, crustaceans, molluscs and derivates thereof, including caviar shall be carried out in accordance with the Federal Law No. 166-FZ on fisheries and conservation of aquatic biological resources.” Chapter 7 of the Federal Law No. 166-FZ on fisheries and conservation of aquatic biological resources shall be supplemented with the Article 54 of the following wording: “Article 54. Seizure of illegally caught (harvested) aquatic biological resources and fishing gear used for such purpose 1. Illegally caught (harvested) aquatic biological resources, derivates thereof and fishing vessels and fishing gear used for such purpose shall be subject to seizure without compensation or confiscation in accordance with the Russian legislation. 2. Seized or confiscated aquatic biological resources pertaining to sturgeon and salmon species, crustaceans and molluscs shall be returned into their natural habitat and, in case of the impossibility to do so, the aforesaid species, and derivates thereof, including caviar, shall be subject to immediate destruction. Other seized or confiscated aquatic biological resources shall be subject to sale or destruction in accordance with the decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation.”