Fishing Prohibition Expanded Across Multiple Locations within Belarus by the Ministry of Natural Resources
Catch This: Fishing Rules and Regulations Across Belarus
Break out your rods and reels, anglers, but take heed! A fresh wave of fishing bans is sweeping through Belarus, with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection calling the shots. Here's what you need to know about the new rules and where they're in effect.
Long-term Bans
- Neman River: A 1000-meter stretch below the Grodno Hydroelectric Power Station dam is temporarily off limits until July 1, 2028. Catching fish by hand, as well as using gear (except for rods and spinning), is prohibited from May 31 to March 31 every year on an unnamed stream feeding into the Grodno Aзot water intake.
- Western Dvina River: A nearly year-long ban has been imposed on an 800-meter stretch below the Vitebsk HPP dam, starting June 30, 2025 and lasting until April 9, 2026.
Seasonal Bans
- Goryn River (Stolin District): An annual ban is in effect from October 1 to April 15 on a 7-kilometer stretch from "Dubrava" fish farm to Bereznoe-Rubel bridge, as well as from the "Novaia Prypech" apiary to the river's mouth.
- Neman River and Augustow Canal (Grodno District), alongside the "Grodno Aзot" water intake near Pogorany village and on the section of the Augustow Canal where it flows into the Neman – an annual ban applies from October 15 to April 15. In addition, fishing is prohibited within a 200-meter radius of the villages of Mikhailovka and Glyadovichi from October 1 to May 30.
Spawning Season Ban
During the spring spawning period (April 1 to May 30), fishing is prohibited in the following regions:* Grodno Region: Augustow Canal from the lock near Nemnowo village to its confluence with the Nemunas River, the Nemunas River's Poymennye Water Bodies (including Kelbas and Berezhan bays), lakes Stary Nemunas-1 (Haratica village), Vinoboye, and Novoye (Novinka village), and the backwater near Dubno village, as well as Nemunas River at Mikhailovka village and Grodno Reservoir at Glaidovichi and Mikhailovka villages (from October 1 to May 30).* Brest Region, Luninets District: Mikashevichi Canal – 2.5 km upstream from its confluence with the Pripyat River, and the Pripyat River – 500 meters upstream and downstream from the Mikashevichi Canal's confluence.* Vitebsk Region, Polotsk District: Western Dvina River – 2.3 km below the Polotsk HPP dam to the borders of Boiary village.* Mogilev Region, Mogilev City and Mogilev District: Dnieper River – from the "BELAZ" water intake (Kirov Machine-Building Plant) to the mouth of the Debrya River, including adjacent poimennye water bodies.* Grodno and Brest Regions: Narew River – in Svisloch and Pruzhany districts within the territory of the National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha".
A look back:The new decree revoked the effect of 16 previous resolutions by the Ministry of Natural Resources, originally issued between 2013 and 2023. These resolutions scattered information about fishing bans throughout numerous documents, making it difficult for fishermen to keep up. By consolidating the information in one place, anglers can now easily understand where they're allowed to cast their lines.
One more thing to consider...A ban on catching catfish has been introduced in certain Belarusian regions, but details about the penalties for violating this rule are yet to be specified. Stay tuned for more updates!
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus is proposing restrictions on selecting fishing spots. Unfortunately, specific river sections where fishing and swimming would be banned have yet to be revealed. To find accurate and up-to-date information, consult official sources or news releases from the Belarusian Ministry of Transport and Communications.
What science should anglers in Belarus consider before choosing fishing spots, given the new regulations?Environmental-science, as the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus is proposing restrictions that might also include swimming bans in certain rivers, and details about these bans have yet to be revealed.
