During the last week, during the night from Thursday to Friday, employees of the State Police Licensing and Authorisation System Office, in cooperation with employees of the Nature Conservation Board, identified two violations of fishing and fishing regulations during the closure of lamprey fishing, which were committed in protected areas. In one case, 19 lamprey were caught illegally, while in another, 87 lamprey. The national police draw attention to the fact that, during the closure of lamprey fishing, the penalty for each lamprey caught is EUR 40.
On Thursday, shortly before midnight, officials noticed that a car was driving out of a small road leading to a specially protected area called Abava Senles. The police stopped the driver of the car. Seeing both the driver and passengers dressed in fishing gear, the law guards called for the contents of the vehicle's luggage compartment to be shown. The luggage compartment contained 19 illegally caught lamprey and a fish-stabbing fork.
There were three people in the car in total, one of whom confessed that all 19 lamprey had been caught by hand in the Abava River. The total amount of environmental damage is €760.
Administrative proceedings have been commenced regarding fishing in inland waters without a relevant permit, in a prohibited place, during a prohibited period or with prohibited gears or techniques. Such infringement shall be punishable to natural persons from two hundred and eighty to seven hundred euro by confiscating the tools and objects of the offence, including floating means with equipment or without confiscation, and shall deprive fishing rights for a period of up to three years or without deprivation of rights.
A short time later, the State Police received a request from the employees of the Nature Conservation Board to help. They reported that there were malnourishments spotted near the Pazzi River in the nature-barred Piazzi. When the law guards arrived at the scene, they tried to escape with the moped, but a moment later they were stopped. On the moped was a father with a son who identified 87 illegally caught lamprey in a backpack.
In this case, the amount of damage to the environment is EUR 3480. The extent of such infringement is criminally liable after Article 110 of the Criminal Law, “Unfree fishing and the Acquisition of Aquatic Animals”, for catching or otherwise harvesting fish or aquatic animals without an appropriate permit, during a restricted period or in prohibited places, or with prohibited tools or techniques (involuntary harvesting), if caused by it by a group of persons after the previous an agreement or if it has been made in a specially protected nature area. Such infringement shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a period of up to three years or by temporary deprivation of liberty or by forced labour or by a fine.
The man had also operated a vehicle without mandatory civil insurance, and the driver had no right to drive. For this man, the reports of administrative irregularities were drawn up.
Such checks shall be carried out on a regular basis from both the State Police and the Natural Protection Board. It is recalled that from 1 February to 31 July in Brass, Gauja, Irba, Lielupe, Saka, Salaca, Saint-Laat, Užava and Venta the fishing of lamprey is prohibited. For other rivers in which lamprey fishing is authorised, the closing period shall run from 1 February to 31 October. In Daugava fishing closures for lamprey are in force from 1 May to 31 July.
Prepared by:
Lina Kalke
Senior Officer of the State Police
Public Relations Department.
Mob. Tel. 29904081, 67075394