In fact, the possibility of establishing such zones exist in Russia since 2004, when was adopted the law "On fisheries and preservation of aquatic biological resources". The rules of their creation was approved by the decree of the Russian government four years later. The types of activities that may be prohibited or restricted in these zones was not determined. New edition of the rules was approved by the Russian government resolution of October 5, 2016.

"The absence of regulations stipulating the mechanisms of creation of such zones, as well as a list of activities that may be prohibited in such areas, prevent the application of the law in practice. Now, new edition of the rules clearly defines those activities that may be prohibited or restricted in fisheries protected areas", — stated in the message.

The list includes mining and mineral exploration, navigation, transportation of oil and its derivatives, the activity leading to changes in the hydrological regime of the river, the felling of forest plantations, construction of buildings and industrial structures.

"For many years, the world wildlife Fund and several other environmental organizations are engaged in the elaboration of the question of the possible establishment of fisheries protected areas to marine waters in the basins of spawning rivers of the Far East. Conducting such economic activities as mining, are fraught with serious harm salmon. To date, ecologists have developed for the establishment of protected areas in some regions, including Kamchatka in the basin of the river Opal and on the Western Kamchatka continental shelf", — the press service quoted the coordinator of the program on sustainable fisheries of the Kamchatka Ecoregional office of WWF Russia Mr. Sergei Korostelyov.

Environmentalists believe that the emergence of fisheries management zones in one of the designated areas of Kamchatka will create a precedent that will give impetus to the establishment of a similar protected areas in other parts of the country, where the interests of fishermen are threatened.

Opal – an important spawning river of Kamchatka and the West Kamchatka shelf is unique in diversity and richness of biological resources in the area, playing a prominent role in the reproduction of biological resources of the entire sea of Okhotsk.