"Gendarmerie's 'Mullet' patrol! 58 tons of dead mullet fish were seized."

In Van, a total of 58 tons and 653 kilograms of dead pearl mullet fish have been seized as a result of the operations carried out by the gendarmerie teams to prevent illegal hunting from April 15, 2024, until today. It has been reported that the efforts to protect the natural life will continue during the fishing ban.

228 INCIDENTS HANDLED IN 710 PATROLS

From April 15, 2024, until today, in order to prevent illegal hunting, 710 patrols were carried out on all riverbeds and streams, including Bendimahi Stream, Deliçay, Zilançayı, Çolpan Stream, Karasu Stream, and Engilsu Stream, which feed Lake Van, and 228 incidents were intervened.

19,000 TONS OF FISH RELEASED BACK INTO THE WATER

In the intervened incidents, 19,101 kilograms of live pearl mullet were released back into the water, 2,750 meters of fishing line, 1,450 meters of magnet net, 76 scattered nets, 25 tırıvırı nets, 19 scoop nets, and 58 tons and 653 kilograms of dead pearl mullet were seized. 166 individuals were caught and fined a total of 2,330,179 TL.

CONTROLS ARE CARRIED OUT WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART DEVICES

During the patrols carried out with various technological devices such as thermal cameras, drones, binoculars, as well as night and day, the Public Order Teams, Environmental, Nature and Animal Protection Team, Gendarmerie Underwater Search and Rescue Team, Gendarmerie Mounted Team Command, and Public Order Boat Command provide support.

24-HOUR PATROLS IN RIVERS AND LAKES

Observation points are established in critical areas where fish migration is intense in rivers and lakes, and patrols on foot and by motor vehicles are carried out along the rivers on a 24-hour basis. The aim of the activities carried out during the pearl mullet fishing ban is to protect and sustain the existing natural life of the pearl mullet fish, which contributes to the regional economy.