Fishing ban

The Rosson District Inspectorate of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection reports that in order to preserve fish resources and create favorable conditions for fish reproduction, in accordance with paragraph 30 of the Rules of Amateur Fishing, it is prohibited in the Vitebsk region from April 10 to June 08.

Except for fishing with: one rod with one hook or one spinning rod equipped with one artificial lure, having no more than two single, or double, or treble hooks, during daylight hours from the shore (without entering the water, except for cases specified below), from ice, artificial structures (except for railway bridges, dams, at locks, pumping stations, other hydraulic structures, for which restrictions and prohibitions on economic activities are established, at a distance of less than 50 meters in both directions from the boundaries of the specified technical structures).

Entering the water is permitted if it is not directly related to fishing (unhooking the lure, bypassing obstacles).

It is allowed to use a landing net to lift fish caught with the above-mentioned permitted amateur fishing gear out of the water.

Violations of these Rules entail responsibility under Part 1 of Article 16.25 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus:

- entails a fine of 10 to 30 base units with confiscation of the tools for catching fish or other aquatic animals and other items that served as the tool or means of committing the specified violation, or without confiscation, for an individual entrepreneur - from 20 to 100 base units with confiscation of the tools for catching fish or other aquatic animals and other items that served as the tool or means of committing the specified violation, or without confiscation, and for a legal entity from 100 to 500 base units with confiscation of the tools for catching fish or other aquatic animals and other items that served as the tool or means of committing the specified violation, or without confiscation.

Damage caused to the environment during the spring fishing ban is calculated at a triple rate.

For example: for the illegal catch of one bream during the spring ban, the offender faces a minimum fine of 370 rubles and damages of 333 rubles, regardless of the size and weight of the fish. Thus, one fish weighing 200 grams can cost the offender a considerable sum, hitting the family budget.

During the spring fishing ban, the use of small vessels and vessels with outboard engines in fishing grounds is prohibited.