The active period of the promotion "Salmon 2022" starts on Thursday, September 1, and lasts until November 20. With this campaign, officials of the Department of Environmental Protection aim to ensure the protection of salmon and smolts in their migration and spawning areas.
"Every year we have a unique opportunity to admire the extremely valuable fish jumping in the rivers of Lithuania - salmon and smolt. However, we don't always think that the resources of these fish are limited, so it is extremely important to protect them before spawning and during the spawning period and to comply with valid prohibitions", says Mantė Ramanauskienė, head of the Activity Organization Department.
According to the environmentalist, the death of each female salmon or smolt during migration or spawning can greatly reduce the population of these fish. In addition, migrating salmon and smelt face many obstacles, such as dams, hydroelectric dams. And particularly great damage is caused by hooking or netting fish catching poachers.
"Identified cases of poaching only show that these fish need special protection during migration and spawning. We would like to remind you that the damages for illegally caught salmon or sardines are not small - 970 euros, in addition, there is a threat of fines", notes M. Ramanauskienė.
Although the campaign started in July, after environmentalists began to control commercial fishing, from September 1. raids will take place throughout Lithuania. During the campaign, special attention will be paid to the coast of the Baltic Sea, the Curonian Lagoon, the Nemunas delta region, the rivers Šventoji (seaside), Nemunas, Minija, Jūra, Dubysa, Neris, Šventoji, Žeimena, Siesartie, Vilnelė, Vokė and their tributaries. Approaches and roads to these water bodies will also be checked.
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Raids will be organized in the specified areas, regular control of commercial fishing will continue and recreational fishermen will be checked. The officers will stop and check, especially in the dark, the vehicles of persons suspected of violating the legislation governing fishing.
If necessary, environmentalists will exchange information on identified violations, organize joint raids and cooperate with police and State Border Guard Service officers in other ways. The help of non-statutory environmental protection inspectors will also be used, and important information will be exchanged in cooperation with non-governmental organizations.
"During the action, the officers are not only interested in finding out the offenders. Crime prevention is also very important - timely prevention of illegal use of salmon and smolt resources. Thus, the public will be regularly notified about fishing requirements, the results of the campaign, and environmental information will be provided to local residents and persons inspected during raids. Only a conscious society can preserve the environment, that's why we appreciate everyone's help: the more caring people there are by the rivers, the fewer violations there will be," says M. Ramanauskienė.
In order for salmon and smolts to migrate more easily and for fish to safely reach spawning grounds, some dams and power plants have fish channels - fish culverts. Environmentalists, in turn, will check that the fish channels installed in the salmon rivers are functioning properly.
The environmentalist reminds that last year during this campaign 316 raids were conducted and 1929 amateur fishermen were checked. During the promotion period, 135 violations of recreational fishing rules were detected (88 of them gross), 6 violations of commercial fishing and 41 violations of other types. Officers also seized 182 tools: 69 for amateur fishing, 107 for non-amateur fishing and 6 other tools.
Department officials appreciate the growing public support and encourage fishing violations to be reported to emergency services by calling 112.
