Chinanews.com, Wuhan, July 22 (Li Zongwu) The Hubei Provincial Public Security Department joined the Provincial High People’s Court, the Provincial People’s Procuratorate, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Provincial Market Supervision Administration and other departments on the 22nd to issue the "Regarding Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Fishing "Notice of Crime" (hereinafter referred to as "Notice").
The "Notice" pointed out that according to relevant laws and regulations, the following illegal fishing illegal and criminal activities are strictly prohibited: fishing using prohibited fishing methods such as electricity, poison, and explosion, as well as prohibited fishing gear and nets; fishing in prohibited fishing areas, closed fishing periods and aquatic Illegal fishing in biological reserves; illegal hunting, killing, purchasing, transportation, and sale of national key protected aquatic wild animals and their products; fishing of aquatic animal seedlings and broodstock with important economic value. Harboring, transferring or selling illegally caught fish, manufacturing and selling prohibited fishing gear and nets. Driving a motor ship without a license or driving a ship without anti-pollution facilities, equipment, and without a water pollution prevention certificate and documents; forging or fabricating the ship’s account number, or altering the ship’s engine number. Publishing advertisements for illegally caught fish, using "Yangtze River, Han River wild fish" and "wild river fresh" as marketing gimmicks, making false or misleading commercial propaganda about the source and quality of goods, deceiving and inducing consumers; Propaganda, solicitation, and inducement to eat illegally caught fish and their products in the form of commercial signs, shop notices or recipes.
The "Notice" warns those involved in fishing violations and criminals, and must immediately stop illegal and criminal activities. Those who voluntarily stop criminal acts and promptly hand over illegal boats, fishing gear, nets, and catches to the local public security organs or agricultural (fishery) departments shall be given a lighter, mitigated or exempted punishment in accordance with the law.
The "Notice" clearly stated that the broad masses of people are not allowed to illegally purchase, raise, or consume national protected aquatic wildlife. If such aquatic wild animals are found outside the natural habitat waters, they should promptly report to the agriculture (fishery) department for rescue and protection.
At the same time, the people are called on to actively report illegal fishing, illegal sales of nationally protected aquatic wildlife and products, illegal production and sales of prohibited fishing gear, nets and other illegal and criminal activities. Those who harbour or shelter illegal fishing criminals and help them destroy or forge evidence will be held accountable in accordance with law; those who threaten or retaliate against whistleblowers or accusers will be severely punished in accordance with the law. (Finish)