Published: 04.09.2025.

The State environmental Service shall perform State control of the utilisation of fish resources in the territory of Latvia, on the continental shelf and in the economic zone of the Republic of Latvia of the Baltic Sea, as well as control of fishing, which is performed with Latvian fishing vessels in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regulating environmental protection and fishing in the territory of the European Union, States which are not Member States of the European Union, and international waters.

 

According to Cabinet Regulation No. of 2 May 2007 .296 “provisions on industrial fishing in territorial and economic zone waters” fishing vessels must send a report on the vessel's catch and estimated time of arrival in port (landing point) before entering port.

Reports on catches and estimated time of arrival in port shall be sent to the following fishing vessels:

  • of a length exceeding 10 m,
  • other vessels of lesser length, if specified in the laws and regulations of the European Union.

Messages should be sent to:

  • not less than two hours before the arrival of the vessel,
  • if the fishing ground is closer than 2 hours from the landing point, immediately after the last fish lift,
  • the report should also be sent if the vessel returns without catch.

Report to the Fisheries monitoring Division of the Department of Fisheries Control of the State environmental Service with:

Content of the ship's report:

  • The name of the vessel,

Name and berth number or name of the port of unloading. . (If landings are planned at several berths, all of them must be reported in the appropriate order),

  • Estimated time of arrival (Latvian time) at the place of landing,
  • Identification code and weight in kilograms of fish caught,

Identification code and weight in kilograms of by-catch fish. . (if the code of the species concerned is not known, indicate its full name).

Fish identification codes *

Species of fish

Identification code

Herring

HER

Sprat

SPR

Cod

CODA

Salmon

SALT

Trout

TRS

Flounder

FLE

Turbot

THERE

Salaka

SME

Cutie

ELP

* - If the code of the species concerned is not known, its full name must be given.

Example of a text message:

KUGIS, PORT, SCAFFOLDING, TIME, HER, 2000, SPR, 13000, COD, 100, PZ, ASARI, 100, CRY, 200, ZANDARTI, 50

Explanation:

KUGA - the name of the ship;

PORT - the name of the port without longitudinal signs and softening signs;

LADDER - the number or name of the berth;

TIME – estimated arrival time at the landing site in 24:00 format;

HER, 2000, SPR, 13000, COD, 100 — fish species code and catch quantity in kilograms;

PZ, SHARPS, 100, CRY, 200, ZANDARTI, 50 - name of the by-catch species and quantity of catch in kilograms.

the message should also be sent if the vessel returns without catch. .
The report shall indicate catches of all species, including those for which no limit has been set.

Pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system to ensure compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and Council Regulation (EC) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system to ensure compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, the Department for Fisheries Control of the Environmental Service shall implement an electronic recording and Reporting system (ERS) for fishing activities.

For first purchasers registered through ERS shall have the possibility to declare the first transaction in fish electronically. . Fishermen fishing with vessels whose overall length exceeds 12 metres may declare catches through the dedicated electronic logbook programme or through the ERS Web interface.