News
The Department of Environmental Supervision Identified 491 Cases of Illegal Fishing in 10 Months
As part of its efforts to combat poaching, the Department of Environmental Supervision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture identified 491 cases of violations of fishing regulations and illegal fishing between January 1 and October 31, 2026. Of these, 247 cases contained elements of a criminal offence. The relevant materials were forwarded to the competent authorities for further action.
In total, approximately 550 kg of fish were illegally caught.
The highest number of violations – 105 cases – was detected in the Imereti region. A further 84 cases were recorded in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, 64 in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, 54 in Kvemo Kartli, 47 in Kakheti, 37 in Shida Kartli, 14 in Guria, 11 in Adjara, and 11 in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Additionally, 48 cases were identified by officers of the Black Sea Convention Protection Division.
Violations were also recorded in the capital. During the first 10 months of 2026, the Department's officers identified 16 cases of violations of fishing regulations and illegal fishing in Tbilisi.
Poachers frequently used illegal fishing equipment, such as gillnets and electric fishing devices.
Alongside detecting and preventing illegal fishing, the Department of Environmental Supervision prioritises prevention. To this end, preventive measures are carried out intensively, particularly in areas where poaching incidents have been relatively frequent in recent years.
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).
