A meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was held in Lima, Peru's capital. Participants approved a new six-year whale quota. For the district's sea mammal hunters, the volume of sea giant catches will remain unchanged, reports IA Chukotka.

'The Commission unanimously agreed that all conditions had been met. Consequently, quotas are automatically extended for the next six-year period,' the international whaling organisation stated.

Russia's harvest volumes remain unchanged: up to 135 grey whales and 5 bowhead whales annually. All sea giants in the country are harvested in Chukotka.

'Both whale species are used in the district solely to maintain and preserve traditional nature use by indigenous peoples. Sea mammal hunting provides unique employment for the indigenous population of coastal villages along the Bering and Chukchi Seas, meeting their food needs and supporting the region's cultural traditions,' the district government reported.

According to the district's Department of Agriculture and Food, the region's territorial-social organisations have harvested 126 grey whales since the season began.

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