According to the “Rules on Fishing of Fish and Other Aquatic Bioresources” approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan on June 2, 2017, industrial fishing of fish and other aquatic bioresources is prohibited in all water bodies across the country from May 1 to September 1 each year due to the spawning season.
In this regard, measures to protect fish stocks and combat illegal fishing have been intensified.
From March to May, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Center operating under the Ministry of Agriculture carried out large-scale monitoring and preventive operations in various regions of the country. The activities were organized jointly with the Water Transport Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Coast Guard of the State Border Service.
As part of these efforts, awareness campaigns were conducted among fishermen regarding the seasonal fishing ban, while regular рейды against illegal fishing activities were carried out. Illegal nets and other prohibited fishing equipment discovered during inspections were removed from the water and destroyed in accordance with regulations.
Between January 1 and May 14 of this year, raids resulted in 48 individuals being held accountable for illegal fishing activities. Administrative protocols were issued in 45 cases, while materials related to 3 cases involving criminal liability were forwarded to law enforcement agencies.
On May 12, a cleanup campaign was organized in the section where the Kura River flows into the Caspian Sea at the initiative of the IDEA Public Union and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Center, with participation from the Water Transport Police Department and the “Baku Fishermen and Underwater Hunters Club” Public Union.
During the campaign, special boats and sanitation equipment were used to remove fishing nets, hunting gear, and household waste from the delta section of the Kura River.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Center stated that efforts aimed at protecting fish resources, combating illegal fishing, and promoting environmental awareness will continue.
