Poachers Caught in Odesa Region with Red Book Fish; Damages Exceed 250,000 Hryvnias.

Illegal Catch of Endangered Fish in Odesa Region

According to Novyny.live: Law enforcement in the Odesa region intercepted fishermen and a female driver engaged in the illegal capture of fish listed in Ukraine's Red Book of endangered species. The total weight of the seized catch reached 15 kilograms. Authorities confiscated four stellate sturgeons and one Danube salmon, both protected species.

A 52-year-old woman was transporting four stellate sturgeons weighing a combined 15 kilograms. Two men, aged 43 and 39, were fishing on the Danube River using prohibited nets. During their operation, they caught a Danube salmon weighing approximately 4 kilograms.

Fines and Environmental Damages

Under Ukrainian law, fines for illegal fishing range from 17,000 to 51,000 hryvnias. Additionally, each Danube salmon caught incurs a fine of 14,000 hryvnias. The total damages to Ukraine's fisheries sector exceeded 250,000 hryvnias.

The stellate sturgeon and Danube salmon are protected under Ukraine's Red Book. Poaching remains a severe issue in the water bodies of the Odesa region. Key factors driving the decline of these species include:

• dam construction
• poaching

Authorities continue to take action against these offenses to safeguard aquatic resources and preserve the region's biodiversity.

This incident highlights the gravity of poaching in Ukraine, particularly in the Odesa region, where illegal fishing causes significant harm to the ecosystem. Law enforcement's response demonstrates intensified efforts to combat such crimes, which could positively impact the conservation of Red Book species.