Deportation for catfish catch. Ukrainian expelled from Poland with entry ban

A 57-year-old Ukrainian citizen has been forcibly deported from Poland and banned from entering the Schengen zone for five years following an incident involving the illegal and cruel capture of a large European catfish.

The man was apprehended after illegally fishing a nearly 40-kilogram catfish, estimated to be around 180 centimeters long, from Lake Balaton. The fish, a long-term resident of the lake, was reportedly caught during its protected season, which runs until May 31 in Poland. Authorities were alerted by a local councilor.

Further charges include animal cruelty. Reports indicate the catfish struggled extensively, pulling the watercraft, which led to its extreme exhaustion. After being hauled ashore, the fish was subjected to a photo session on a concrete pavement before being placed alive into a car trunk. The incident caused significant environmental and material losses, according to the Polish Angling Association.

The Ukrainian national faced charges for illegal fishing during a protected period and animal cruelty, offenses punishable by up to three years in prison under Polish law. The Border Guard determined his actions posed a clear threat to public order, leading to the immediate deportation order and the five-year entry ban for Poland and all Schengen states.