Rēzekne police remove dozens of illegal fishing nets

Rēzekne Municipality Police have removed dozens of illegal fishing devices from local waters during inspections this year, showing that poaching remains a problem in the region, LSM reported.

The police have been patrolling public water bodies alongside their public-order duties for a year, monitoring compliance with fishing and angling regulations. This responsibility has been delegated to all municipalities in Latvia.

During a recent inspection in Malta Parish, officers launched a drone over Lake Černoste. The drone allows them to survey a large area quickly and identify suspicious locations where illegal fishing gear may have been placed.

“First, we fly the drone if the weather conditions are suitable. You can see everything immediately. It serves as evidence: we can film and record illegal activities,” said Artūrs Semjonovs, an inspector with Rēzekne Municipality Police.

Last year, with funding from the State Fish Fund, the police acquired a drone, a motorboat, an electric motor with a battery, life jackets and other equipment. Officers also use homemade tools to locate nets hidden underwater.

“When looking for illegal nets, we use a homemade anchor with teeth, commonly called a ‘cat’. Nets are usually hidden underwater without any identifying markers. The ‘cat’ is dragged along the bottom until it catches on the net, allowing us to find and pull it out,” Semjonovs said.

Inspections are carried out about twice a week in summer. Police visit both randomly selected lakes and locations reported by residents.

Rēzekne Municipality Police monitor 37 lakes and 43 public rivers. Officers regularly find suspicious fishing gear, most often nets.

“There are also fyke nets. Nets can be 100 metres or more long. Quite long,” said Gunārs Korševskis, deputy chief of Rēzekne Municipality Police.

Since the start of the season, officers have removed 34 illegal fishing devices from the water: 27 nets and seven fyke nets.