Individual arrested for flouting seasonal fishing ban in Sidakan district

SIDAKAN — Forest and Environment Police in Sidakan district, part of Soran Autonomous Administration, arrested an individual for illegal fishing in the Hatkan village, the Soran Forest and Environment Police Directorate announced Monday.

According to the statement, the Sidakan police was alerted to the activity and dispatched forces to the scene, where the suspect was apprehended in possession of a fishing net and fish caught illegally.

Following the arrest, the Sidakan District Administration fined the individual 100,000 IQD ($67).

The arrests follow a seasonal fishing ban declared by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, effective from March 10 to June 20, 2025. The ministry stated the ban is intended to protect aquatic life during the annual spawning season.

Despite this fishing ban, four people were arrested for illegally fishing in the Basarra stream in Chamchamal district, Sulaymaniyah governorate, on Sunday.