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Fisheries Science of Ukraine, 2026; 3(77): 23-43
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61976/fsu2026.03.023
UDC 639.2.081.1(282.247)

Received: 05.07.2026
Received in revised form: 21.08.2026
Published: 30.09.2026

Analysis of catches of illegal gillnets in the Dnipro reservoirs during the spawning period

V. Gurbyk, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID ID 0000-0002-0835-1257, Institute of Fisheries of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv
I. Buzevych, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID ID 0000-0001-7526-9774, Institute of Fisheries of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv
О. Gurbyk, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID ID 0000-0002-8653-2942, Institute of Fisheries of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv

Purpose. The aim of the work is to investigate the structural parameters and selectivity of catches with gillnets during IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing in the water area of ​​the Dnipro reservoirs during the spawning period.

Methodology. Species composition and catch size per fishing gear effort were determined based on the analysis of materials from the National Police of Ukraine on IUU fishing. In total, materials from 157 proceedings were analyzed, the total amount of analyzed fishing gear effort was 15,261 m, from which 27,215 fish were caught. The analysis used the maximum available sample of catches, which included data from gillnets with a mesh size of a=20–140 mm for the period 2023–2025, which allowed eliminating the impact of interannual variability in catches and obtaining a representative median value of the non-selective catch values. The commercial stocks of ichthyofauna of reservoirs were determined in accordance with the approved commercial catch limits for 2023–2025. To analyze the selectivity of IUU fishing, Pearson’s χІ test and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used. The critical significance level when testing statistical hypotheses was taken to be 0.05.

Findings. The main poaching gears in all reservoirs were small-mesh gillnets, which accounted for 54.9–86.5% of all analyzed nets. In total, from 7 (Dnipro Reservoir) to 16 (Kremenchuk Reservoir) fish species were recorded in the studied poaching catches. The basis of poaching catches during the prohibition period was Prussian carp (CPUE = 0.39 kg/m) in the Kyiv Reservoir, bream (CPUE = 0.19 kg/m) and Prussian carp (CPUE = 0.15 kg/m) in the Kaniv Reservoir, bream (CPUE = 0.59 kg/m) and Prussian carp (CPUE = 0.24 kg/m) in the Kremenchuk Reservoir, roach (CPUE = 0.55 g/m) in the Kamianske Reservoir, Prussian carp (CPUE = 0.80 kg/m) in the Dnipro Reservoir. For all reservoirs, a general positive relationship was established between the biomass of a certain species and their catches (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was 0.56–0.87), however, the χІ criterion indicated that the distribution of shares between species was significantly different from expected, i.e., poaching had a pronounced species selectivity.

Originality. For the first time in Ukraine, poaching during the natural reproduction period of the main commercial fish species has been analysed. The main commercial fish species that are subject to maximum catch during the spawning period in the context of individual reservoirs have been identified.

Practical Value. The obtained data can be used in state regulatory activities to ensure the protection of aquatic biological resources, in particular when forecasting their harvest depending on the technical intensity of IUU fishing.

Keywords: IUU fishing, species composition of catches, commercial fishing effort, protection of aquatic biological resources, illegal fishing, poaching, net gear.

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