On the Danube River and in the Dniester estuary, law enforcement officials arrested three residents of the Odesa region involved in illegal fishing activities. Preliminary estimates indicate that their actions resulted in over 1.3 million hryvnias in losses to the state, as reported by the police.

The first incident occurred at the mouth of the Danube in Ochakiv, where the river police from Izmail discovered two local men aged 45 and 57 fishing for Black Sea sprat from a boat using nets without any permits. They confiscated their boat, four nets totaling 300 meters in length, and 50 kilograms of fish.

On the same day, along the shore of the Dniester estuary near the village of Kalagliy, the Odesa river police, together with border guards, detained a 60-year-old resident of the Ovidiopol community. He was caught fishing for pike perch, bream, sprat, and perch using eight gill nets. They seized 798 meters of nets, a boat, and over 300 fish.

"According to ecologists, the men from Izmail caused damages amounting to 500 thousand hryvnias, while the Ovidiopol resident caused damages exceeding 800 thousand. Pre-trial investigations have been initiated 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 Chornomorsk district prosecutors" - the report states.

Law enforcement reminds that from April 1, there is a spawning ban in the region, thus fishing for aquatic biological resources during this period is strictly prohibited. It was also reported that from April 20, restrictions on catching sprat would apply.