Crayfish were returned to the river, while a teenager in Mykolaiv region must pay nearly 280,000 in damages

A minor who illegally caught crayfish in the Southern Buh in the Voznesensk district of Mykolaiv Oblast must pay the state 279,888 hryvnias in damages. In addition, the court sentenced the young man to one year of probation supervision. According to reyestr.court.gov.ua.

The details of the case are set out in the judgment published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions. The catch took place on July 17, 2025, near the settlement of Oleksandrivka — approximately 1.6 kilometers downstream from the Oleksandrivska Hydroelectric Power Plant.

At around 11:00 a.m., the young man arrived at the river with a metal net, textile gloves, and a diving mask. He stayed in the water until approximately 2:00 p.m. and caught 84 river crayfish during that time.

During an inspection, officers from the Mykolaiv Fisheries Protection Patrol noticed someone diving, who then came ashore wearing a mask and carrying a bag. The teenager showed the inspectors where he had hidden the catch and voluntarily handed over the crayfish. After they were counted, they were released back into the river.

The court heard testimony from witnesses, who reported the following:

• A fisheries protection inspector confirmed that the extraction of aquatic biological resources is prohibited in this area year-round.
• A witness who helped inspect the scene said they had not seen any special signs warning of the fishing ban in the settlement itself.
• A minor who had come to the river with the accused said that he had spoken in advance about his intention to catch crayfish.

The accused fully admitted his guilt but refused to testify. In determining the sentence, the court considered that he had been a minor at the time of the incident, had no prior convictions, and was studying at the South Ukrainian Vocational Lyceum. A representative of the children’s services described him positively. The court found no aggravating circumstances.

The damage to the Ukrainian fisheries was assessed by experts. The court found the damage substantial and granted in full the civil claim filed by the relevant fisheries agency department. The young man was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 249 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine of illegally engaging in aquatic resource extraction, causing substantial damage.

During the probation supervision period, the convicted person must:

• Report periodically to the probation authority for registration.
• Notify the authority of any change of residence, employment, or place of study.
• Obtain approval before leaving Ukraine.

In addition to paying damages, he was ordered to pay the state 2,120 hryvnias and 40 kopecks in expert examination costs. The mask, gloves, and metal net used for fishing were confiscated by the court and transferred to state ownership.

The judgment may be appealed to the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal within 30 days of its pronouncement.

We previously reported:

• Woman ordered to pay more than 145,000 hryvnias for an illegal catch in Mykolaiv Oblast
• “Millionaire” fisherman illegally catches crayfish and fish worth over a million hryvnias in Mykolaiv Oblast
• Poacher catches 182 crayfish in the Southern Buh using scuba gear
• Diving in a mask to catch crayfish: illegal fishing in Mykolaiv Oblast causes nearly 256,000 hryvnias in damage to the ecosystem
• Caught crayfish — Mykolaiv Oblast residents face a huge fine or three years in prison