MOSCOW, September 29 (RAPSI) – A U.S. federal judge on Monday blocked a transfer of 18 belugas from Russia, Reuters has reported.

According to Reuters, beluga whales in question were captured in the Sea of Okhotsk and are currently kept in Russia. A court's ruling prevents The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta or any other national institution from acquiring the whales.

A federal judge said that transfer would not help conserving the belugas population and in fact it would do the opposite, Reuters has reported. It was noted that whales will remain in Russian custody and that Russian authorities would decide their fate.