In Dnipropetrovsk region, poachers caught fish worth 185,000 hryvnias in just one day (PHOTOS).

On Thursday, January 9, the Dnipropetrovsk Fish Protection Patrol exposed three fishing offenders. The total amount of damage they caused is 185,000 hryvnias. This was reported by "Vidomo" referencing the Dnipropetrovsk Fish Protection Patrol.

In the first case, the patrol caught two individuals on the Samara River in the city of Samara, who were fishing with two nets – prohibited fishing gear. The offenders caught 70 silver crucians from their boat. The total weight of the illegal catch was 18 kg. The damage amounts to 110,670 UAH.

Subsequently, fish protection officers recorded a similar violation on the Orel River in the village of Obukhivka, Dnipro district. The individual was fishing with four nets. As a result, the offender managed to catch 14 catfish, 9 pikes, 6 perch, and one specimen each of flounder and silver crucian. The total weight of the illegally caught aquatic biological resources was 6 kg. The damage caused to fish stocks amounts to 75,225 UAH.

Protocols for administrative offenses have been drawn up against the individuals under part 4 of Article 85 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. Additionally, a investigative operational group from the National Police has been called to the scene. Currently, the question of initiating a criminal case under Article 249 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal fishing, hunting, or other aquatic resource extraction) is being considered.

The boats and fishing gear have been seized by investigators. A portion of the unharmed fish caught in the nets has been released back into their natural habitat. The remaining illegally caught aquatic biological resources have been transferred to a business entity with which a contract for responsible storage of the products has been established.