---
title: "Ukraine Imposes Ban on Fishing in Wintering Pits Starting November 1: What Anglers Can and Cannot Do"
description: "Starting November 1, 2026, a ban on fishing in wintering pits is in effect in Ukraine until the 2027 spawning season. The State Fisheries Agency has defined pit boundaries by region, reminded anglers of permitted tackle, and will step up patrols."
date: 2026-11-03T15:01:50.997Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-imposes-ban-on-fishing-in-wintering-pits
tags: [fishing-ban, ukraine, wintering-pits, fishery-rules, water-biological-resources]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukraine Imposes Ban on Fishing in Wintering Pits Starting November 1: What Anglers Can and Cannot Do

![An angler in a jacket and beanie sitting by a riverbank taking a fishing rod out of its case on an overcast day](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/03/v-ukraine-startoval-zapret-na-vylov-ryby-v-zimovalnyh-yamakh/v-ukraine-startoval-zapret-na-vylov-ryby-v-zimovalnyh-yamakh-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The ban on catching aquatic bioresources in wintering pits in Ukraine runs from November 1, 2026, until the start of the 2027 spawning period.
- Territorial departments of the State Fisheries Agency have issued orders with lists and boundaries of wintering pits; coordinates are provided upon official request.
- During the ban, fishing is permitted outside wintering pits; from the ice using winter rods and tip-ups, with no more than 7 hooks per angler.
- Gear with hooks where the distance from the shank to the barb exceeds 10 mm is banned; the agency is stepping up patrols.

Starting November 1, 2026, the traditional autumn ban on catching aquatic bioresources in wintering pits has come into effect across Ukraine's water bodies. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a publication by the press service of the State Agency for Land Reclamation, Fisheries, and Food Programs (State Fisheries Agency). The restrictions will last until the beginning of the spawning period in 2027, covering the entire autumn-winter season when fish migrate to deep areas of water bodies and prepare for winter.

### Why the Ban Was Introduced and What Wintering Pits Are

According to Ihor Klymenok, Head of the State Fisheries Agency, protecting fish in wintering pits is crucial for the conservation and reproduction of aquatic bioresources. During this period, he noted, "aquatic inhabitants are especially vulnerable," so compliance with established restrictions allows them to survive the winter and ensure natural population reproduction. Wintering pits are depressions in water bodies where fish concentrate for the winter; fishing is strictly prohibited there first and foremost.

### Where Exactly Fishing Is Banned: Orders and Coordinates

To protect aquatic bioresources and create favorable conditions for their wintering, the territorial departments of the State Fisheries Agency have issued relevant orders. These define the lists and boundaries of wintering pits for various regions — specifically, the exact areas where fishing is prohibited. The appendices to the orders for each region can be reviewed online on the agency's website, and geographical coordinates of the wintering pits are provided upon an official request to the respective territorial body of the State Fisheries Agency.

### What Is Allowed: Fishing Rules During the Ban Period

Citizens have been reminded that during the seasonal ban, fishing is permitted exclusively outside of wintering pits. Meanwhile, fishing from the ice is allowed using winter rods and all types of tip-ups (zherlitsy), provided that the total number of hooks does not exceed seven per angler. Thus, the act of fishing itself in the winter period is not banned — the restriction applies specifically to wintering locations and certain types of tackle.

### Prohibited Tackle and Liability for Violations

During the autumn-winter period — from freeze-up to ice breakup — it is prohibited to use fishing gear equipped with hooks where the distance from the shank to the tip of the barb exceeds 10 mm. Throughout the year, the use of single interconnected, double, and triple hooks is prohibited in designated cases. The law provides penalties for violating these restrictions, ranging from administrative fines to more severe liability. "For our part, we are stepping up patrols on water bodies and urging the fishing community to treat wintering fish responsibly," Ihor Klymenok summed up.

Separately, the agency has previously clarified related topics: why not all river fish are safe, whether caught fish should be released, and which species in Ukraine can be caught limitlessly without restrictions or fines. These clarifications complement the primary ban and help anglers navigate the rules throughout the year.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В Украине стартовал сезонный запрет на вылов рыбы: как изменились правила для рыбаков](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ukrayini-startuvala-sezonna-zaborona-vilov-1793716696.html) - Primary source: start of the ban on November 1, 2026, duration until the 2027 spawning period, orders of territorial departments, tackle rules, quote from State Fisheries Agency Head Ihor Klymenok.
- [С 1 июня в Украине будет действовать новый запрет: рыбаков предупредили о штрафах](https://focus.ua/economics/756087-shtrafy-i-zapret-vylova-chto-izmenitsya-dlya-rybakov-v-ukraine-s-1-iyunya) - Context: summer seasonal fishing restrictions (shrimp, mussel) in the Black Sea; confirms the practice of seasonal bans by the State Fisheries Agency, but does not apply to the autumn wintering pit ban.
- [В Ростовской области с 15 ноября введут сезонный запрет на вылов рыбы](https://www.rostov.kp.ru/online/news/7218415/) - Подтверждено по источнику rostov.kp.ru
- [С 15 ноября в Ростовской области начнет действовать сезонный запрет на вылов рыбы](https://news.mail.ru/society/72689153/) - Подтверждено по источнику news.mail.ru

## FAQ

### When does the ban on fishing in wintering pits apply in Ukraine?

The ban started on November 1, 2026, and remains in effect until the beginning of the spawning period in 2027.

### Is fishing allowed at all during the ban period?

Yes, fishing is permitted outside of wintering pits. From the ice, you can fish with all types of winter rods and tip-ups, provided the total number of hooks does not exceed seven per angler.

### What tackle is prohibited during the autumn-winter period?

Fishing gear with hooks where the distance from the shank to the barb exceeds 10 mm is prohibited. Throughout the year, using single interconnected, double, and triple hooks is not allowed in specified cases.

### How can I find out the boundaries of wintering pits in my region?

Boundaries are defined by orders of the territorial departments of the State Fisheries Agency; appendices to the orders are available online on the agency's website, and geographical coordinates are issued upon official request to the respective territorial body.