Administrative and procedural status of entities involved in proceedings concerning violations of fisheries protection legislation

The aim of the study was to examine the procedural activities of authorised bodies in cases concerning violations of fisheries protection legislation. A systematic approach was used in the study to examine the institutional structure of fisheries protection authorities in relation to the National Police, courts and local executive authorities. The result was the identification of the key role of fisheries protection authorities in recording offences, as well as the determination of the need for more effective coordination of their activities with other law enforcement agencies. It was established that interaction with the National Police contributed to strengthening control over compliance with legislation, but had shortcomings in terms of the rapid exchange of information and proper documentation of violations. Court decisions were analysed, in particular rulings from 2023-2024, which illustrate practical problems of law enforcement in the field of fisheries. The analysis revealed inconsistencies in the courts’ approaches to assessing the evidence in cases of violations of fisheries legislation, which negatively affects the legal certainty of court decisions. The judicial authorities performed the function of verifying the legality of the actions of administrative bodies, but the practice of applying sanctions varied depending on the specific circumstances of the case. The use of a comparative legal method made it possible to compare Ukrainian experience with the practice of EU countries, in particular, the approach of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of “Yașar v. Romania” to the confiscation of property used for illegal fishing was analysed. This made it possible to identify common features in the application of sanctions and to justify the compliance of Ukrainian practice with European standards