Filenews 3 November 2025
The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research made 190 complaints about violations of fisheries legislation in the period May-August 2025, according to an announcement by the Press and Information Office.
The administrative fines imposed amounted to a total of €17,392, while in some cases criminal proceedings were initiated. The offences concerned, inter alia, illegal professional or recreational fishing, possession or use of a speargun without a licence, use of light sources or diving apparatus, as well as fishing activities after sunset.
In addition, infringements related to control instruments, landing and marketing of fishery products, as well as activities in marine protected areas and fishing shelters were found. The Department also reported incidents of non-cooperation with the authorities and illegal fishing in dams.
The Department states that during this period, 90 maritime patrols and 631 land patrols were carried out in port areas and coasts, facilities for the disposal and storage of fishery products, routes for the transport of fishery products, as well as in water dams.
In more detail, according to DFMR, 603 inspections were carried out by sea patrols, while 1,349 inspections were carried out by land patrols, of which 518 on dams and 479 on port areas, coasts and related facilities.
At the same time, under the Community Programme for the Development of Instruments for Fisheries Control (JDP 2025), 36 maritime patrols were carried out, during which 20 inspections and 106 inspections were carried out at sea.
DFMR emphasizes that controls are constantly intensifying both at sea and on land, with the help of the upgraded Fisheries legislation, which provides for stricter penalties and higher fines following the relevant amendments in 2024.
It is noted that the amendments to the Fisheries Legislation in 2024, which increased the maximum amount of the fine, significantly strengthen the institutional framework and are an effective tool for preventing violations.
According to the new regulation, a person who violates the Regulations of Article 6 of the Fisheries Law (excluding those related to water pollution) is guilty of an offense and, in case of conviction, is subject to a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to twenty thousand euros or both.
CNA
