Animals - Fish poaching: many cases during the pandemic
Fish poaching has increased significantly in Brandenburg during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Neuruppin public prosecutor's office, it registered around 115 such cases in its own area of responsibility in 2021. In 2019 - the year before the pandemic - the authority only investigated 50 cases of fish poaching.
The figures from the public prosecutor's offices in Frankfurt (Oder) and Potsdam paint a similar picture. According to the authorities in Frankfurt (Oder), they dealt with 114 fish poaching offenses in 2019. In 2020, there were already 144 cases. In Potsdam, the highest number of investigations by the public prosecutor's office during the pandemic was 69 offenses. According to the public prosecutor's office in Cottbus, it was unable to query the figures.
According to a spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office in Potsdam, the figures relate to proceedings that are recorded in the database with the main offense of fish poaching. However, various offenses could fall under fish poaching. These include fishing without a fishing license or fishing with too many rods. Fishing with live bait fish is also prohibited.
Half of the cases are handed over to the lower fishing authorities and treated as administrative offenses, said the spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt (Oder). This often results in "considerable fines". Around half of the remaining portion is dropped due to minor guilt, which also depends on whether the offenders confess or are first-time offenders, for example. According to the spokesperson, a fifth of the remaining portion will be suspended in exchange for fines. It is not possible to make a blanket statement about the level of punishment. Charges would only be brought against "recalcitrant offenders or offenders with a substantial criminal record". The public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt (Oder) has imposed fines amounting to 28,000 euros over the past five years, the spokesperson explained.
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- The increase in fish poaching during the pandemic has prompted calls for stronger enforcement of nature conservation laws in Brandenburg, particularly in areas like Neuruppin and Frankfurt (or).
- The public prosecutor's office in Potsdam has emphasized the importance of protecting public resources, such as fish stocks, as a crucial element of criminality prevention policies in Brandenburg.
- Despite the rising number of fish poaching cases, the coronavirus pandemic has also led to some positive developments in wildlife conservation efforts in cities like Potsdam, with initiatives promoting urban nature preservation and re-greening projects.
- Often overlooked in discussions about fish poaching and criminality is the impact of the pandemic on recreational anglers, who may face restrictions in accessing popular fishing spots in Brandenburg, leading to potential conflicts with authorities and other users.
- As the public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt (Oder) takes steps to combat fish poaching, it has emphasized the importance of educating the public on the principles of sustainable fishing and responsible environmental stewardship in order to foster long-term changes in attitudes and behaviors towards nature conservation in Brandenburg.
Source: www.stern.de
