News
The Department of Environmental Supervision has detected a case of illegal fishing using an electric device in the Mtkvari River
Employees of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Division of the Department of Environmental Supervision under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, together with officers of the Aspindza District Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, have detected a case of illegal fishing in Aspindza Municipality.
Near the village of Rustavi, in the Mtkvari River, persons were fishing using an electric device. The offenders had illegally caught 61 kg of various fish species.
Fishing using an electric device constitutes a criminal offense; accordingly, the Aspindza District Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has opened an investigation into the case.
Electric fishing devices pose a threat to human life and health. The manufacture, purchase, possession, carrying, transport, shipment, or sale of such devices is punishable by law.
Combating poaching remains a top priority for the Environmental Supervision Department. In 2025, the department detected 805 cases of illegal fishing, of which 368 contained signs of criminal offense. As for fishing with electric devices, 59 cases of illegal fishing using the prohibited method were recorded last year.
The patrol crews of the Department of Environmental Supervision conduct continuous 24-hour monitoring nationwide to ensure the timely prevention, detection, and suppression of illegal fishing, hunting, and other environmental violations. In addition, they provide immediate responses to all reports received through the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture’s hotline (153). The increased rate of detection of illegal fishing in recent years is a result of strengthened monitoring and enforcement capacities.
