Illegal extraction of aquatic biological resources: criminological aspect

The actuality of the problems of countering illegal extraction of aquatic biological resources is caused by the widespread criminal fishing in this area, which is directly associated with high risks of damage to the biological diversity of aquatic organisms and violations of the country’s food security against on the background of a critical reduction in fish stocks. Undoubtedly, in order to successfully solution of the tasks of combating crimes in this orientation, it is necessary to use a complex of criminological tools aimed at minimizing the negative influence of factors contributing to the execution of these criminal encroachments. The article reveals the main determinants of illegal extraction of aquatic biological resources, the personal characteristics of the corresponding category of criminals,and such little-studied aspects of the declared topic as the geography and reasons of the high latency of these crimes. The necessity of including the insufficient development of aquaculture as an activity for cultivation aquatic biological objects in a special artificially created environment in the causal complex of illegal catching of aquatic organisms is substantiated. Such activity, in certain conditions, can contribute to the displacement of the sales of poaching products. Along with this, the sufficiency of the market by fish planting material (fry, fertilized eggs) reduces the risks associated with illegal extraction of these products from natural water areas. Among other reasons for this crime, the author also highlights the wide dissemination and availability of information about tools and methods of illegal fishing on the background of the development of digital technologies and the possibility of openly posting relevant information in the Internet. Attention is drawn to the greatest attractiveness for poaching of certain regions of Russia due to the availability of extensive marine and river water areas and a significant concentration of some especially valuable samples of the aquatic biosphere. Based on the results of the study, the author proposed a system of organizational, socio-economic, legal and administrative-political measures of the counteraction to the illegal extraction of aquatic biological resources.