Pike fishing is banned in March
01 March 2010 г.
The State Inspectorate reminds that pike fishing is prohibited from March, 1 till March, 31 according to the Fishery and Fishing Rules.
In Belarus pike inhabits all small and large rivers, inundable waters, water storage basins and ponds. It’s well known fish in Eurasia and North America.
During spawning the underwater predator changes its behaviour considerably. It becomes less active and less protected from fishermen. Insignificant noise can disrupt the whole process of spawning.
There exists a wrong opinion, that being a predator pike eradicates everything it comes across and damages fish resources. In reality pike regulates the number of fish in water basins, preventing excessive growth of biomass and shortage of forage. It also functions as a sanitary who removes ill and weakened fish. That’s why pike is an important element of fishery in natural water basins and its stocking has a fishery and biological basis, developed by scientific organisations.
Strict control of state fishing control bodies during pike spawning period over the observance of the ban imposed from March, 1 till March, 31 by the Fishery and Fishing Rules ensures protection of this fish species not only during the period of spawning itself, but also during the period of spawn maturation. The main efforts of environmental protection bodies are put in preventive measures. However, if environmental law violations are detected, the violation shall be suppressed and the violators shall be brought to court.
One should remember that the catch of one spawning fish leads to destruction of tens thousands of pieces of spawn and thousands of young fish. No efforts to stock the water basin with fish artificially can make up for losses. That’s why during spring spawning the harm, inflicted by the poacher, when one sample of fish is caught shall be compensated threefold and the fine amounts to 3 basic units per a specimen. In case inflicted harm amounts to more than forty basic units, the poacher is criminally liable.
