Poachers caught red-handed: The State Ecological Inspection has thwarted illegal fish capture efforts.

During a patrol of the coastal area of the "Nizhnesulinsky" National Nature Park, in collaboration with the State Environmental Inspection and a working group from the Aviation and Water Police, Cherkasy patrol officers discovered two individuals attempting to flee after illegally fishing in Lipovoe, Poltava region.

However, the police apprehended them as they were trying to leave the scene. It turned out that the men were engaged in illegal fishing using a motorboat powered by a Yamaha 60 hp engine and a UAZ vehicle.

During a preliminary inspection, the officers found prohibited fishing gear – 12 fishing nets of various sizes, as well as a large quantity of freshly caught fish: carp, catfish, pikeperch, pike, bream, and crucian carp. The damage caused to the state amounts to 2 million 252 thousand hryvnias.

A forensic investigation team was called to the scene to establish the circumstances of the offense.

All illegal fishing gear, boats, engines, vehicles, and fish were seized by the investigators.

Friends, our water bodies need our care, and violating the law can lead to serious consequences.

Be responsible, respect nature, and remember that each of us can make the water cleaner and the fish more abundant!