One of the frequently asked questions received by the Lepel Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora concerns where and at what time crayfish can be caught, and how many crayfish traps are permitted to be used.

The procedure and conditions for catching the long-clawed (narrow-clawed) crayfish are defined by the Rules for catching, harvesting and (or) purchasing wild animals not classified as game or fish species. The broad-clawed crayfish is included in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus, and its capture is prohibited.

For personal use, citizens may catch the long-clawed (narrow-clawed) crayfish using no more than three crayfish traps per catcher; they cannot be left unattended. Catching crayfish by hand is also permitted, but only during daylight hours. Scuba diving is prohibited when catching crayfish.

One person is allowed to catch no more than 2 kg of crayfish per day. The commercial size limit must be observed: the distance from the tip of the rostrum to the end of the telson of caught crayfish must be at least 10.5 cm.

The closed seasons for crayfish fishing vary by region. The capture of long-clawed (narrow-clawed) crayfish is prohibited in the fishing grounds of Brest and Gomel regions from March 20 to May 18, Grodno, Minsk, and Mogilev regions – from April 1 to May 30, Vitebsk region – from April 10 to June 8. It is prohibited to catch egg-bearing females and females with larvae throughout the year.

A crayfish trap is a tool for catching crayfish, which is a net square (circle) with a diagonal (diameter) of no more than 100 centimeters with bait attached in the center (an open-type lift net) or a trap (no more than 100 cm long) with one or more (no more than 5) entrances with an entrance opening diameter of no more than 70 centimeters (a closed-type trap).