Russia to Use AI-Equipped Drones to Deter Poachers and Monitor Rivers

A new drone-based surveillance program will patrol spawning rivers in Sakhalin and use AI-generated audio to confront illegal fishing activity in real time.

Russian authorities are preparing to deploy drones for anti-poaching surveillance in the Sakhalin region. Governor Valery Limarenko announced the program, which will use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with video monitoring systems to track river conditions and detect illegal activity during fish spawning season.

In addition to real-time surveillance, the initiative features an AI-powered audio alert system. When a drone spots a suspected poacher, it will fly in close and deliver a warning via loudspeaker, saying, for example: "Attention! You are engaged in illegal fishing. Please leave the area."

Drones are already a familiar tool in Russian environmental protection. Across the country, they’ve proven effective in battling wildfires by detecting smoke, assessing fire spread, and assisting containment operations.

Other emerging technologies are being used to locate underwater waste. A driverless boat outfitted with specialized sensors autonomously follows pre-programmed routes along rivers. The system detects and marks underwater trash hotspots, allowing clean-up crews to remove the debris efficiently.

These innovations reflect a broader push to integrate robotics and AI into Russia’s environmental management strategies.