A Poacher Caught in Odesa Region with a Catch Worth 246 Thousand Hryvnias
Law enforcement officials discovered a case of mass illegal fishing of aquatic biological resources in the territory of the Dniester Liman, in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district of Odesa region. Together with representatives of the State Ecological Inspection of the Southwestern District, officers from the local water police detained the offender near the village of Pivdenne.
This is reported by AgroReview
The detainee turned out to be a 41-year-old resident of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district. The man was engaged in illegal fishing during the spawning ban, which significantly worsened his situation. He used ten units of prohibited fishing gear – nets.
Illegal Catch Discovered
During the inspection, a significant catch was found with the poacher: 466 Black Sea mullet and 260 crabs. All illegally obtained aquatic living resources, as well as the fishing gear, were seized as physical evidence.
According to preliminary estimates by specialists, the offender caused significant damage to the state – nearly a quarter of a million hryvnias. The exact amount of damage inflicted on Ukraine’s fishery sector is 246 thousand 250 hryvnias.
Legal Consequences
Investigators from the territorial police unit have initiated criminal proceedings regarding this incident. The actions of the individual have been classified under part 1 of Article 249 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – illegal engagement in fishing or other aquatic resource extraction activities.
The sanction of this article provides for liability that may include fines ranging from one thousand to three thousand non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens (equivalent to 17,000 – 51,000 hryvnias as of 2025) or imprisonment for up to three years.
The investigation is ongoing.