Information event for Luban Lake fishermen

On June 12, Nature Protection Administration Latgale Regional Administration organised an informative event for Luban Lake fishermen to remind the most important about fishing and related provisions in the special area of conservation. A large number of Luban Lake fishermen from the Rēzekne and Madona municipality had gathered in the water tourism information centre. This shows that the lakes in the lake care about the lake, Luban wetlands individual protection and use regulations, changes in the fisheries law and changes in the Latvian Code of Administrative Violations.
The National Security Administration Latgale Regional Administration staff informed fishermen that no change would be made in this year. Industrial fishing will begin in accordance with the dates specified in the individual protection and use regulations of the “Lubana wetlands”. In Luban Lake Neutral and Nature Conhibition Zone, nets may be placed from 16 June, but in the Nature Park zone from 21 June.
The biggest change will be the Madona municipality's self-consuming fishermen. In accordance with the new version of the Fisheries Law, they will receive a fishing licence for one murderer instead of the usual network licence. This led to an excitement among fishermen, pointing to the difficulties of fishing with pots during the winter period.
During the event, fishermen were also reminded of the general information on gear and water safety. In accordance with Cabinet regulations regarding industrial fishing in inland waters, the marking plate of a fishing gear must be made from a light foam, white metal or other waterproof material and the name of a legal person (fishing organisation) or the name of a natural person, as well as the contact telephone number of a fisherman shall be indicated on the marking plate. Fishermen shall be reminded that, at both ends of the gear, fixed or floating vertical buoys (cards) with the same colours (other than white) are added at the outermost points, with all sides not less than 20 cm. Nets with a length of more than 50 m shall, in addition to each 50 m, be marked with additional stoves. Fishermen are also informed about changes in the Latvian Code of Administrative Violations. The non-compliance of labels and flags is subject to a penalty ranging from EUR 30. In accordance with the safety requirements on water in the lake, each fisherman must have a lifejacket.
It is also stressed that fishermen are engaged in fishing in specially protected areas “Luban wetlands”, which is also the largest lake of Latvia and is visited annually by a large number of tourists. Therefore, fishing and municipal waste resulting from fishing must be collected.
The regional administration of the Nature Protection Administration Latgale invites fishermen to cooperate in order to prevent illegal fishing in the lake and, when detecting illegal activities or disorder, requests contact with national environmental inspectors.
Dace Victor, Dagnis Vasilevsky
Senior State Environmental Inspectors of the Latgale Regional Administration of Latvia
Photo: “Luban wetlands” - Ivars Leščinskis