Employees of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Regional Division of the Department of Environmental Supervision under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture have identified a case of poaching in the Abasha Municipality.

This was done in the framework of the fight against poaching. Poachers often used illegal fishing tools such as fishing nets, electric shock devices, and others.

In the village of Tyviri, a citizen illegally caught 2.5 kg of fish using an electric fishing device. The offender was transporting both the illegally caught fish and the prohibited fishing equipment.

Since the fact contains signs of a criminal offense, the case materials have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for further action. Electric fishing devices pose a threat to human life and health. The manufacture, purchase, possession, carrying, transport, shipment, or sale of such devices is punishable by law.

Combating poaching remains a top priority for the Environmental Supervision Department. Last year, the Department’s employees identified 59 incidents of illegal fishing using electric devices.

The patrol crews of the Department of Environmental Supervision conduct continuous 24-hour monitoring nationwide to ensure the timely prevention, detection, and suppression of illegal fishing, hunting, and other environmental violations.

In addition, they provide immediate responses to all reports received through the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture’s hotline (153). The increased rate of detection of illegal fishing in recent years is a result of strengthened monitoring and enforcement capacities.

Illegal fishing is a serious problem that threatens the biodiversity and sustainability of the aquatic resources in Georgia. The department urges citizens of the country to consider that fishing is prohibited with means such as electrodes, electric shock devices, self-made electronic tools, firearms, netting, etc.