Illegal Fishing on the Dniester: Three Fishermen Arrested
On the Dniester River and in the lagoon, law enforcement officials uncovered three residents of the Odesa region engaged in illegal fishing. Preliminary estimates suggest that their actions caused the state losses exceeding 1.3 million UAH, as reported by the police.
The first incident occurred at the mouth of the Danube River near the town of Vylkove. The Izmail district water police detained two local men, aged 45 and 57, who were illegally catching Black Sea sprats using nets from a boat without any permits. The offenders had their vessel, four nets totaling 300 meters, and 50 kilograms of fish confiscated.
On the same day, along the shores of the Dniester lagoon near the village of Kalagliya, the Odesa district water police, together with border guards, apprehended a 60-year-old resident of the Ovidiopol community. He was fishing for pike perch, bream, sprats, and perch using eight gill nets. Authorities seized 798 meters of nets, a boat, and over 300 fish from him.
"Ecologists estimate that the men from Izmail caused damages of 500,000 UAH, while the Ovidiopol resident caused more than 800,000 UAH in losses. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Part 1 of Article 249 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal fishing). The penalty provides for up to three years of restriction of liberty. Investigations are ongoing under the supervision of the Izmail and Black Sea district prosecutors" - the statement reads.
Law enforcement reminds that a spawning ban has been in effect in the region since April 1, making the catch of aquatic bioresources strictly prohibited during this period. It was also reported that restrictions on catching sprats will come into effect from April 20.
