As of October 1, a ban on fishing in "wintering holes"—areas where fish congregate during the colder months—has come into effect in Belarus, in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 284, "On Fisheries and Fish Farming." The ban will remain in place until April 15. To help anglers avoid accidental violations, the United Institute of Informatics Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (UIIP NASB), in collaboration with the Institute of Fisheries and under an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, has developed an interactive map showing the precise coordinates of these restricted zones.


There is no longer any need to consult paper lists. Simply open the app on your smartphone, select the specific wintering hole, and you can view its boundaries, a description of the water body, and its exact coordinates.


"Users can access the interactive map, select a wintering hole, and view its description, as well as the coordinates marking its start and end points," explains Maria Mikhailovna Slesareva, a junior researcher in the Department of Intelligent Services at the UIIP NASB.


The application is used not only by anglers but also by officers from the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Animal and Plant Life. During the restricted period, the number of downloads exceeds 5,000. Use the navigation tool, help preserve fish stocks, and fish without the risk of incurring a fine—which can range from 10 to 30 "base units"!


For more details, watch the report by the television channel "Pervy Informatsionny" (First Information Channel).