On the banks of the Danube and the Dniester estuary, law enforcement officers discovered three residents of the Odesa region engaged in illegal fishing activities. Preliminary estimates indicate that their actions caused damage to the state exceeding 1.3 million hryvnias.

The first incident occurred at the mouth of the Danube near the town of Vylkove. The Izmail district water police apprehended two local men, aged 45 and 57, who were illegally catching Black Sea sprats from a boat without any permits. Authorities seized their boat, four nets totaling 300 meters, and 50 kilograms of fish.

On the same day, near the village of Kalahiya, the Odesa district water police, in collaboration with border guards, detained a 60-year-old man from the Ovidiopol community. He was found fishing for pike, bream, sprats, and perch using eight gill nets. Over 798 meters of nets, a boat, and more than 300 fish were confiscated from him.

"Ecologists estimate that the men from Izmail caused damages of about 500 thousand hryvnias, while the resident of Ovidiopol caused over 800 thousand in damages. Investigations have been launched under part 1 of article 249 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal fishing). The penalty may include up to three years of restriction of liberty. The investigation is ongoing under the supervision of the Izmail and Black Sea district prosecutors" - the report states.

Law enforcement reminds that from April 1, a breeding ban is in effect in the region, and therefore fishing for aquatic bioresources is strictly prohibited during this period. It was also reported that from April 20, restrictions on sprat fishing would be implemented.