The flora and fauna of the Adriatic are in danger

Irreparable damage to the Adriatic Sea is caused by Montenegrin fishermen practicing fishing with dynamite. Despite government bans, local fish miners use underwater explosions to enrich themselves. The shock wave kills all living things within a radius of hundreds of meters – schools of fish, sea turtles, as well as the unique flora of the Adriatic are dying. Even tourists diving in Montenegro are in danger.

Eco-activists of the Stop Illegal Fishing association are fighting barbaric fishing methods - they monitor cases of illegal explosive practices, document them and pass information to the police. However, low fines do not stop poachers: 1 kilogram of fish now costs at least 20 euros, which more than covers the costs of fines or even evasion of responsibility. In recent years, there has not been a single criminal record for fishing with explosives.

The head of the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of Montenegro, Katerina Burzanovic, believes that the laws should be stricter: "We are preparing a new law on fisheries and marine culture, criminal provisions are our priority. The perpetrators must be adequately punished."

It is not yet known when the new law will appear.