The government approved the requirements of the European Union Regulation on fisheries control at its meeting on December 9 and decided to amend the rules on fishing, crab fishing, and underwater hunting.
According to the changes, starting from January 10, 2026, fishermen and underwater hunters will be required to report six species of fish caught or released (if the catch is not kept) in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga – eel, cod, salmon, vendace, sprat, and flounder.
Considering that most fishermen and underwater hunters are already registered on the website (http://www.makskeresanaskarte.lv) when purchasing a fishing card or registering a printed fishing card, they will be able to electronically register their catch as well. The catch information must be entered on the website within 24 hours of its receipt.
"Electronic catch reporting will provide more accurate data on fish catches during recreational fishing and underwater hunting in coastal marine waters, which is necessary for making scientifically based and sustainable decisions on fish resource management. This data will allow for a better assessment of the impact of resource users on specific fish species, provide important information on the status of their populations and trends in changes, and contribute to a better understanding and responsibility of society for the conservation of fish resources," the government stated.
Detailed information on registering catches obtained in the coastal zone of the sea is available on the website.
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