The Lepel Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora reminds...

The Lepel Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora reminds:

A ban on catching vendace is established from November 15 to December 20.

Vendace is a species of freshwater fish of the genus Coregonus.

It reaches a size of 13–20 cm, with a maximum size of up to 35 cm. In shape, vendace is somewhat similar to herring. The body is strongly compressed laterally; the lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw and has a notch into which the thickened end of the upper jaw fits. The scales are relatively large (96 to 91 scales along the lateral line). The back colour is grey-blue, the sides are silvery, the belly is white, the dorsal and caudal fins are grey, and the others are white or whitish.

It prefers clean sandy or clayey bottoms, stays in lakes mainly at depth, avoiding very warm water. The diet of vendace consists mainly of small crustaceans (Daphnia, Cyclops, etc.), for which vendace often comes out in schools to shallow depths. Spawning occurs in late autumn and early winter. The eggs are quite small (1.5 mm in diameter) and relatively numerous (3600 per female). In the second year, reaching a length of 7 cm, vendace is already capable of reproduction.

Fish caught during the prohibited period, by prohibited methods, will be calculated at triple the rate for each individual, i.e., 9 base units, which amounts to 189 Belarusian rubles for one individual vendace. According to the Code of Administrative Offences, in particular Part 1 of Article 15.35. Extraction of fish or other aquatic animals without proper permission, or during prohibited times and seasons, or in prohibited places, or with prohibited gear, or by prohibited methods, as well as an attempt at such extraction, entails a fine of 20 to 50 base units.

If the amount of damage is 100 or more base units, criminal liability is provided for under Article 281 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

In order to create favourable conditions for the reproduction of the Chud whitefish, a ban on its catch is established in Belarus from November 1 to December 15. During this period, the whitefish spawns. This freshwater representative of the salmon family is not afraid of the cold and begins to reproduce in late autumn.

The catfish, on the other hand, is quite sensitive to cooling temperatures, which is why it hibernates earlier than other fish species. During this period, the catfish becomes almost motionless, making it an easy catch in its wintering grounds. To conserve the European catfish during the winter period, from November 1 to March 31, its capture is prohibited everywhere.

Catching these fish species during the prohibition period will result in substantial fines for offenders: 12 base units for each European catfish and 9 base units for each Chud whitefish.

All citizens who are aware of any violations of environmental protection legislation are kindly requested to report them by calling the hotline at Lepel MRIS at 8 (02132) 4 36 85.