Legislative Requirements

Article 17 of the Law of Ukraine 'On Fisheries, Commercial Fishing, and Protection of Aquatic Biological Resources' states that the operation of water intake structures and other facilities, as well as the use of technologies without fish protection devices, is prohibited.

Article 39 of the Law of Ukraine 'On the Animal World' establishes that during any kind of work on fisheries, in protective coastal strips, and water protection zones, measures must be planned and implemented by users to maintain proper ecological conditions and ensure the reproduction of aquatic living resources.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 552 'On the List of Industrial Sections of Fishery Water Bodies (or Their Parts)', all water bodies used or potentially used for fisheries purposes in the basins of the Dnipro, Dniester, Siverskyi Donets rivers and others are considered fishery water bodies.

Clauses 4.30 and 4.43 of the State Construction Norms and Regulations (SNiP 2.06.07-87 'Fish Passage and Fish Protection Structures') and VBN 33-2.3-04-01 'Fish Protection and Fish Passage Structures' establish that the efficiency of fish protection devices must be at least 70%. Moreover, the device must ensure the safe removal of fish from the protection zone to the beginning of the fish bypass or transit flow without injuring them.

The Criminal Code of Ukraine, Section VIII 'Crimes against the Environment' (Articles 242 'Violation of Water Protection Rules' and 253 'Design or Operation of Facilities without Environmental Protection Systems') provides for punishment of offenders by imprisonment for up to five years.