Efforts to Stop Poaching Fish in Latvia. Alvis Birkovs Latvian Anglers Association

Transcription

1 Efforts to Stop Poaching Fish in Latvia Alvis Birkovs Latvian Anglers Association

2 We did not inherit nature from our ancestors, we have just borrowed it from our children. American Indian saying in Latvia Alvis Birkovs Vice President Latvian Anglers Association First cloaking it in silence so as not to damage the country s international image. Second reveal the situation as it actually exists. Or, the Homo sapiens within it. So it s them and us. Standing at the threshold of the new millennium people in Latvia - as people everywhere were full of hope for the future. Quite normal. Quite human. Wanted to go into their future with clean and clear minds. Quite normal. Quite human. Wished happiness, love and well being for themselves and for others. Quite normal. Quite human. At these moments, how many of them also thought about Mother Nature and her children? Normal? Human? Yet, some people felt it was their duty as Homo sapiens and responsible citizens to take action, salmon species (salmonids) during spawning. It was supported jointly by the LMA, the World Wildlife assumed by the LAA which is continuing it to the present. government the State Environmental Service, police, Border guards, Coast guard, Rural guard units and individual anglers organizations. To raise the professional level of its work, the LAA established a special LAA Mobile Group. It operates with special authority from the State Environmental Agency and includes more than 20 people now working in Riga and LAA s chapters throughout Latvia. 1

3 Latvia s rivers has rissen 3 to 10 fold. As a result of this happy circumstance the LAA decided on a daring every fall. Latvian Environmental Protection Fund which the LAA has utilized to compile, issue and distribute a the Environmental Ministry as well as appreciation from the public at large. mass media. Today Its primary aim is to identify the main problems dealing with poaching and its prevention. Based on LAA proposals to the government, a working group was established on Fish Resource Protection and Utilization. It works within the State Fisheries Administration of the Agriculture Ministry. It should be noted, however, that this group is more concerned with improving rules and regulations than with identifying the root causes of the problems. Consequently, the LMA independently is carrying out its work on analyzing these problems and has diversity. None of the rules and regulations identify where the responsibility rests for managing watersheds, i.e. no one is in charge of managing watersheds. degrees Fisheries Management Strategic Plan for which has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers April 10, 2007 as protocol No. 23. It states: other areas. Accomplishments of the LMA programs in cooperation with the State Environmental Service, police, Border guards, Coast guard, Rural guard units and individual anglers organizations. of Latvia, the Speaker of Saeima, the Prime Minister, the political parties represented in Saeima, the Environmental Minister, the Economics Minister, the Agriculture Minister, various organizations, the mass media and foreign corresponding partners of the LAA. 2

4 poaching has accomplished the following: >10,000 km in length More than 2,000 people participated in protective raids during Salmon, Sea Trout and Brook Trout spawning Protective raids totaled more than ,000 man-hours Fines totaled more than *LVL 20,000 More than individuals received administrative citations Initiated more than criminal cases Items published in the press and internet totaled more than Broadcast more than TV items Broadcast more than radio items Organized and carried out 8 public events on environmental education and training Organized and carried out 10 special events on environmental education and training for youth *LVL (lats) national currency of Latvia. 1LVL=1.3 EUR or 1LVL=2$ Living Water activities aimed at reducing poaching has accomplished the following: 2007 Raids aimed at water biology resource monitoring and utilization control >16,000 Water sheds inspected (some repeatedly) ,500 Land travel distances covered during raids km ,473 Water travel distances covered during raids km ,474 Total hours spent carrying out raids ,840 Total persons participating in raids Total number of administrative citations and cases submitted toprosecution and the police: Administrative citations by the inspectors of the State Environmental Service (SES) ,826 Administrative citations by authorized persons (150) of the SES Administrative citations by the police Total ,266 Cases submitted to prosecution and police >700 Fines for illegal taking of water biology resources ,551 Ls Assessments for losses caused to water biology resources ,194 Ls , ,440 pcs. the nets removed were considerably longer) >460 km Fish creels Lamprey creels Small size nets Night hooks ,207 Angling items ,206 Ice augers instead of for angling ,331 Total ,133 3

5 Salmon and Living Water Mr. Raimonds Vējonis, Environmental Minister of Latvia. 4

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12 Zivju resursu aizsardzības akcija DZĪVAIS ŪD Dabu mēs neesam saņēmuši mantojumā no senčiem, bet gan aizņēmušies no mūsu bērniem. Amerikas indiāņu paruna Latvian Anglers Association Stabu iela 33-25, Riga, LV-1011, Latvia Phone/Fax: (+371) , Mobile: (+371) , 11

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