Far East Marine Biosphere Reserve

Boating and Bird Watching in the Far East Marine Biosphere Reserve

If you like diving, bird watching or boating, welcome to the Far East Marine Biosphere Reserve, Russia’s first marine reserve established in 1978 to protect the marine ecosystem of Peter the Great Bay! The Far East Marine Biosphere Reserve offers stunning surroundings for your visit. If you take a boat ride, you will be able to see seals, white whales, sea lions as well as many birds resting on small islands and rocky coastline.

You will never forget a boat ride to Furugelm Island, the southernmost island of Russia. The island is known for its seabird colonies. It serves as a resting place for migrating birds recorded in the IUCN Red List and Red Book of Russia, such as red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), white-naped crane (Grus vipio), Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes), Latham’s snipe (Gallinago hardwickii), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Steller’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) and many others. More than 360 bird species can be found on the terrestrial area. Also, the island offers a great opportunity for scuba divers to observe and take photos of the rare species of fish and a living carpet of invertebrates that includes the Kamchatka King crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), Japanese scallops, and octopuses.

If you are keen to hike, take a guided tour along the coast line to visit capes with Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zucc.) and sandy bays. Historic forts are scattered across the region and provide interesting excursions for those interested in naval history and architecture. Also, you can explore the area by riding an ATV or a horse.

The best time to see birds in the protected area is early April – June. The period between July and September is the best season for scuba diving, hiking and boat cruises. The cost of a three-day tour varies from $3,000 to $10,000 per person. We will develop an individual itinerary to match your specific needs. We look forward to seeing you!