Illegal fishing could lead to a sentence of up to three years in prison for offenders.
On November 19, in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi region, police officers, in collaboration with border guards and environmental inspectors, caught a 61-year-old man fishing with prohibited methods. He had no permits for fishing activities.
The police seized two 100-meter gill nets, a fishing suit, and 368 fish, including mullet, flounder, and sardine. The seized biological resources were transferred to a specialized storage facility.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the damages caused exceed eight million hryvnias.
«We have registered a case under Part 1 of Article 249 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, concerning illegal fishing if it caused significant harm. An engineering and ecological examination has been appointed to determine the exact amount of harm done to the state», - stated the head of police station No. 2, Eduard Kolomiiets.
The investigation is ongoing under the supervision of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi District Prosecutor's Office. Police urge citizens to follow fishing regulations and protect nature.