In the four months of May-August 2025, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research proceeded with 190 complaints for violations of the legislation, imposing administrative fines totaling €17,392, while in some cases criminal charges were brought.
This is stated in a statement by the IGT, the violations concerned, among other things, violation of conditions for practicing professional or amateur fishing, illegal possession or use of a speargun without a license, with light sources, diving devices or after sunset, violations related to the means of control, the landing and marketing of fishery products, fishing activities in marine protected areas, fishing sanctuaries, non-cooperation with the competent control authorities, as well as illegal fishing in dams.
The Department reports that during this period, 90 sea patrols and 631 land patrols were carried out in port areas and coasts, facilities for the disposal and storage of fishery products, transport routes for fishery products, as well as in dams.
In more detail, according to TATHE, 603 inspections were carried out by the sea patrols, while 1,349 inspections were carried out by the land patrols, of which 518 were in water barriers and 479 were in port areas, coasts and related facilities.
At the same time, in the framework of the Community Program for the Development of Fisheries Control Instruments (JDP 2025), 36 maritime patrols were carried out, during which 20 inspections and 106 on-board checks were carried out.
TATHE emphasizes that controls are constantly being intensified both at sea and on land, with the help of the upgraded Fisheries legislation, which provides for stricter penalties and higher fines following the relevant amendments in 2024.
It is noted that the amendments to the Fisheries Legislation in 2024, which increased the maximum amount of the fine, significantly strengthen the institutional framework and are an effective tool to prevent violations.
According to the new regulation, a person who violates the Regulations of article 6 of the Fisheries Law (excluding those concerning water pollution) is guilty of an offense and, in case of conviction, is subject to a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to twenty thousand euros, or both.
