From July 1 to 31, officers paid great attention to recreational areas, especially sensitive places in nature – protected areas and water body shores. They checked whether vacationers park their cars in designated places, whether fires are made according to established requirements, whether no trash is left at campsites and fishing spots, and whether vacationers comply with environmental protection requirements when using watercraft and relaxing in the forest.
This year, there was more active prevention of driving in prohibited areas (forests, meadows, protected areas) with ATVs or dirt bikes. These raids were conducted together with the State Service for Protected Areas.
During the raids, environmental officers checked 1,438 amateur fishermen, 236 vehicles, and also carried out 54 other inspections.
Most violations were related to amateur fishing regulations. According to Article 291 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, 93 violations were identified. Among them were violations involving the use of prohibited fishing tools or methods, including repeated offenses. A violation was found regarding the illegal manufacture, sale, acquisition, or possession of prohibited fishing tools. Additionally, 68 violations were identified under Article 305 of the Code, which provides liability for violations of the protection and use regime of protected areas. Another 24 violations were assigned to other articles or parts of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
During the raids, 6 net, stabbing, and hooking tools, 8 amateur fishing tools (circles, rods, spearguns, etc.), and 1 watercraft were seized.
Five cases of environmental damage were identified, with the calculated damage amounting to 1,089.30 EUR.
Focus on forest recreation
Officers of the Forest Control Department conducted 18 raids during the campaign. The raids took place in the districts of Vilnius, Trakai, Elektrėnai, Švenčionys, Molėtai, Zarasai, Ignalina, Rokiškis, Šiauliai, Kelmė, Šilalė, Telšiai, Rietavas, Kaunas, Kazlų Rūda, and Šakiai, with special attention to protected areas and recreational forests.
During the forest control raids, two administrative offense proceedings were initiated for making fires in prohibited places and violations of forest sanitary protection requirements. One mandatory order was also given to remove waste. One vacationer was verbally warned for pitching a tent in a prohibited place – he responded immediately to the warning and moved the tent.
Great attention was also paid to preventive activities. Forest visitors were consulted and reminded of the main responsible behavior and camping requirements in the forest, including requirements related to fire-making places, tent pitching, and other aspects of forest visiting and recreation organization.
More information about responsible leisure in nature can be found in the memo “Recreate Responsibly” prepared by the Environmental Protection Department.
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