Spawning ban in Volgograd region in 2025

Fishing is one of the most popular hobbies among Russians, but it is important to remember that its rules are regulated by law. In 2025, strict restrictions aimed at preserving the population of aquatic bioresources are in effect on the Don River and in the Volga-Caspian basin. The bans apply to certain types of fish, fishing spots and seasons. Violation of the rules can lead to fines and other sanctions, so every fisherman should familiarize themselves with the latest information.

Throughout the year, there are bans on catching a number of fish species and using certain areas for fishing activities:

• Fishing for pike perch and zander is prohibited on the Don River within the area from the Tsimlyansk hydroelectric complex to the mouth, including all inflowing rivers. The exceptions are the Veselovskoye and Proletarskoye reservoirs on the Manych River.
• Fishing is prohibited in the bypass channels of the hydroelectric power plants in the Don basin.
• The use of fishing gear is prohibited at spawning and nursery farms in the Don basin.
• Fishing is completely prohibited in areas of hydraulic structures and bridges where protected exclusion zones have been established.
• Volga: restrictions in the upper and lower reaches of the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station. In particular, fishing is prohibited in the 500-meter zone from the dam, as well as in the section from the dam to the Volga-Akhtuba Canal.

These measures are designed to prevent a decrease in the number of aquatic bioresources and promote their natural reproduction.

In addition to year-round restrictions, seasonal bans on catching certain types of fish have been introduced in certain bodies of water.

• From January 1 to September 15 , catching freshwater crayfish in the Tsimlyansk Reservoir is prohibited.
• From March 15 to April 30 , the ban applies to catching roach and bream in the Don below the Tsimlyansk hydroelectric power station dam, including its tributaries (except for the Manych River).
• From March 20 to April 25 , pike fishing is prohibited in water bodies of fishery importance in the Don River basin.
• From April 1 to May 31 , fishing is prohibited at a distance of less than 500 m from road and railway bridges on non-navigable rivers of the Azov-Black Sea basin.

• From April 15 to June 8 , pike perch fishing is prohibited in the Don basin.
• From April 15 to June 15 , fishing for vimba in the Don River basin is prohibited.
• From April 25 to June 1 , a complete ban on fishing in the Don from the railway bridge at the Lozhki station in the Tsimlyansk reservoir to the mouth of the Ilovlya River is introduced. However, fishing from the shore is allowed using only one float or bottom rod with one hook or a spinning rod with a limit on the number of hooks.
• From April 25 to June 25 – in the reservoirs of the Volga-Don Shipping Canal, fishing is only possible from the shore using a float or bottom fishing rod with a total number of hooks no more than two per person.
• From May 1 to June 1 – fishing is prohibited in the Tsimlyansk Reservoir (from the hydroelectric power station dam to the bridge at the Lozhki station). Exception: shore fishing with a rod and spinning rod without the use of watercraft.
• From May 1 to June 15 – in the Volga and Akhtuba rivers, the reservoirs of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and the Sarpinsky lakes, fishing is permitted only from the shore with a rod with two hooks.

• From December 1 to July 14 and from August 16 to September 14 , crayfish fishing is prohibited.
• From December 15 to February 15 – burbot fishing is prohibited.

From April 1 to June 1, the use of small and pleasure craft is prohibited in a number of regions. The following territories are subject to the ban:

• Tsimlyansk Reservoir (including the Vertyachinsky, Peskovatsky, Cherkasovsky and other bays).
• The Don River and its tributaries (Medveditsa, Tsimla, Ilovlya, Chir, Kurtlak, etc.).
• Lakes of the Volgograd region (Dolgoe, Podosinki, Krasnoe, Chernoe, Glubokoe and others).

This ban is aimed at ensuring the peaceful spawning of fish and minimizing the harmful impact on the ecosystem.

In the Volga-Caspian fishery basin, the catch of rare and endangered species is completely prohibited. These include:

🚫 Sturgeon species , including whitefish. 🚫 Black-backed herring (typical of the Volga-Caspian basin). 🚫 Female freshwater crayfish carrying eggs. 🚫 Any aquatic organisms listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Volgograd Region.

There are severe penalties for illegal fishing of prohibited species of fish.

Violation of fishing regulations may entail administrative fines, confiscation of fishing gear and even criminal liability. For individuals, the fine is from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles , for legal entities it can reach 300,000 rubles .

Compliance with fishing bans will help preserve the biodiversity of water bodies, maintain sustainable fish populations and prevent resource depletion.

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