Crayfish Catching Rules

According to the RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS of January 20, 2016 No. 36 "On Amendments and Additions to the Rules for the Extraction, Harvesting and (or) Purchase of Wild Animals Not Related to Hunting and Fishing Objects," the procedure and rules for the extraction of the long-clawed (narrow-clawed) crayfish have been determined.

The period of prohibition on catching long-clawed (narrow-clawed) crayfish in the fishing grounds of the Vitebsk region is from April 10 to June 8, as well as for egg-bearing females and females with larvae throughout the year. This coincides with the prohibition on catching all types of fish!

It is prohibited:

- catching individuals with a body length of less than 10.5 cm (from the rostrum to the telson) at any time of the year;

- catching crayfish by citizens for personal purposes using more than three crayfish traps per person;

- catching more than two kilograms per day;

- leaving crayfish traps unattended;

- extraction using lighting devices and (or) watercraft, as well as catching by hand during dark hours;

- using other means of extracting wild animals, except for crayfish traps (by citizens for personal purposes)

"Crayfish trap" means a device for catching crayfish, which is a square (circular) net with a diagonal (diameter) of no more than 100 centimeters with bait attached in the center (an open-type lift net) or a trap (no longer than 100 cm) with one or more (no more than 5) entrances with an entrance opening diameter of no more than 70 centimeters (closed-type).

For additional information or reports of poaching, please contact the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora by calling the "hotline" at 6 17 23 or at the address: Verkhnedvinsk, Sovetskaya St., 193/2.

Senior State Inspector

Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate

V.A. Goncheronok