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Angler in the Allgäu shows how animal protection is ignored - police intervene!
In Ostallgäu, an angler was reported for animal welfare violations. Fish were kept in poor conditions.
Angler in the Allgäu shows how animal protection is ignored - police intervene!
On Wednesday morning, July 17th, 2025, the police officers in Ostallgäu were in action. A fishing inspection at Lake Illiasberg led to a serious incident in which a 55-year-old angler was reported for animal cruelty. According to information from Allgäu newspaper The police discovered several dead fish in a keepnet that were kept in far too small a space.
The defendant had apparently stored the fish in the device for a long period of time without adequate storage conditions, which violates the provisions of the Bavarian Fisheries Act. There are strict guidelines that state that the storage period must be as short as possible in order to prevent unnecessary stress and a painful death for the fish. The police seized the keepnet and intervened immediately.
Regulations relating to the keep net
But what exactly does this mean for anglers in Bavaria? The use of keepnets is permitted, but is subject to strict requirements. These state that keep nets must have a minimum length of 350 cm and be made of knotless material. In addition, the rings must have a diameter of at least 50 cm and the keep net must always be attached horizontally and parallel to the bank so that it is constantly flooded. Overcrowding and long-term storage are expressly prohibited in order to comply with animal welfare regulations, which prohibit the infliction of pain or suffering without reasonable cause, such as Angel Magazine informed.
The debate about the use of keepnets is by no means new; There are different regulations in different regions of Germany and neighboring countries. For example in Hesse, Lower Saxony and Saarland, where the use of these holding devices is regulated. In other countries, such as North Rhine-Westphalia, there are no explicit regulations on this topic.
- Dänemark: Regelungen variieren je nach Gewässer.
- Niederlande: Erlaubt, wenn Mindestlänge 250 cm und Durchmesser 40 cm.
- Belgien: Erlaubt, außer beim Nachtangeln.
- Luxemburg: Erlaubt in Grenzgewässern zu Deutschland (mindestens 250 cm).
- Frankreich: Regelungen nach lokalem Angelverein.
- Österreich: Setzkescher erlaubt, wenn sie den Tierschutzvorschriften entsprechen.
Austrian anglers have it comparatively easier with the regulations. Keepnets can be used here as long as they comply with applicable animal welfare standards. Use is also permitted in the Czech Republic and Poland, but this may vary depending on the private water owner.
Before the next fishing trip, it is advisable for every angler to find out about the current regulations. If you have a good knack for the right keepnet and follow the regulations, you can use the catch sustainably - be it for further processing or for your own consumption.
The events at Lake Illiasberg impressively show how important it is to take fishing regulations seriously and to treat the creatures in our waters responsibly.