The ban on fishing imposed on April 1 is lifted today, July 1. Fishing is allowed in all the natural areas of water of the country. Head of the Ministry of the Environment’s Water and Subsoil Resources Division Andrei Ursachi has told IPN that those who want to fish in lakes and rivers managed by the state will need a fishing permit, while those who want to fish in rented ponds will have to comply with the rules set by the lessee.

The fishing permit is available from the Pisciculture Service in Chisinau and all the local offices for 300 lei a year and 30 lei a day. Pensioners can buy a permit for 150 lei a year and 15 lei a day.

Fishing without a permit is fined with 200 lei. If fishermen use banned substances when fishing, they are penalized with a fine of 4,000 to 14,000 lei or 180 to 240 hours of community service.

No state permit is required for fisting in rented ponds. The tax for fishing is set by lessees that have the right to ban fishing in the areas managed by them.

There are over 4,600 lakes and ponds in Moldova. Most of them are leased out. Most often, those who get a fishing permit fish in the Prut and Nistru Rivers, in the reservoirs Stanca-Costesti and Dubasari, and in rivulets.