Where and when to fish in Ukraine in 2025: a detailed list of prohibitions

Fishing in Ukraine is subject to strict restrictions regarding location and time, violation of which may result in both fines and criminal liability. To avoid trouble and preserve nature, it is essential to know where and when fishing is prohibited.

Fishing in Ukraine is permitted only in specially designated water bodies and exclusively for personal consumption, i.e., without commercial purposes. Compliance with established catch norms, as well as a ban on catching rare or protected fish species listed in the Red Book or international lists, is an essential aspect of compliance with the law.

Among the prohibited fishing methods:

snagging – snagging fish by parts of the body other than the mouth;

jamming – striking the water to stun the fish;

the use of explosives, poisons, gases, and drugs;

fishing with scuba gear;

catching crayfish at night with backlighting;

other actions prohibited by law.

Places where fishing is prohibited:

at a distance of less than 500 meters from the dams of large hydroelectric power plants;

closer than 100 meters from fishing farms;

in polluted reservoirs;

on spawning grounds during spawning, even from the shore;

near protected bridges;

in power grid protection zones;

and other prohibited places.

Seasons when fishing is prohibited:

during darkness on ships in the Azov and Black Seas, as well as in inland waters;

during the autumn-winter ice-up period before the water opens, provided that hooks larger than 10 mm are used;

during spawning – except for clearly defined areas and only from the shore;

during molting or during the period of caviar incubation in crayfish.

Responsibility for violations: Both administrative and criminal sanctions are provided for violations of fishing rules. Minor violations may result in a warning or a fine of 34 to 170 hryvnia. In contrast, serious violations, such as fishing with explosives, entail penalties of 340 to 680 hryvnia with confiscation of gear and catch.

Criminal liability applies to illegal fishing that causes significant damage. It provides for a fine of 17,000 to 51,000 hryvnia, or administrative penalties in the form of probation or restriction of liberty for up to three years. For serious violations involving the use of explosives, the fine can reach 85,000 hryvnia, with the possibility of imprisonment.

Compensation for damages: Violators are required to compensate the fishery for damage at fixed rates, regardless of the size of the fish caught. For example:

trout – 7,225 hryvnia per specimen;

catfish – 5,117 hryvnia;

pike – 3,468 hryvnia.

All tariffs are regulated by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1042, which determines the procedure for calculating losses for illegal fishing and damage to aquatic biological resources.