The traces of the cheating speak for themselves. Three salmon nets, most of the nets and whitefish nets. But the labeling of the tools is lacking – and so are the people who used them.
“It is regrettable”
The fisheries inspection was carried out by the County Administrative Board in Norrbotten together with Finnish colleagues on 14 July. Two fishing nets were located along the Könkämä River and one in Lätäseno.
– It is unfortunate that this is the case in fishing. In Norrbotten, we have an increase in salmon fishing and it is a resource that everyone should take responsibility for and follow the regulations, says fisheries supervisor John Malmström.
Total ban
It is not only the non-marking of gear that is prohibited – in the area where the gear was found, there is a total ban on fishing gear with a mesh size of more than 100 millimeters. The tools that were found had a significantly larger mesh size than that, the county administrative board states.
According to the regulation on fishing, aquaculture and the fishing industry, gear and fish swamps must be marked so that it is clear who uses the gear, and whether the user is a professional fisherman or recreational fisherman and whether he has individual fishing rights.
New reporter every year
Is it difficult to stop fishing fraud?
– We receive reports that it occurs every year and we would need more resources to stop it, says John Malmström.
Four fishermen have already been reported to the police for not following the fishing rules in Jårkastaka.