Tip-offs net illegal fishing
Two people who reported illegal fishing during the closed season and also damage to riverbanks received awards from the Jinshan District People’s Procuratorate on Monday afternoon.
The two award winners are both volunteers for environmental and bird protection.
In February this year, the procuratorate received two reports about illegal fishing in a creek during the closed season and fishing nets on the riverbank, along with photos.
After an investigation, prosecutors in Jinshan filed procuratorial suggestions with the district authorities of water affairs and fishing administration to punish the offenders.
The authorities soon launched a crackdown on illegal fishing in Jinshan.
During the campaign, law execution officers cleared fishing nets at 88 sites and handled eight illegal fishing cases, handing out fines of 5,850 yuan (US$850).
By June, the procuratorate had accepted 67 tip-offs relating to public interest litigation, investigated 18 cases and sent 12 procuratorial suggestions to the authorities.
Cases cover financial subsidies, treatment of construction wastes, illegal structures on riverbanks, illegal fishing, illegal pollution discharge and preservation of cultural relics.
In some cases, such as discharge by the car-washing industry, the procuratorate made a list of possible risks for further investigation and verification.