Oudenaarde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Fishermen in Oudenaarde removed an illegal net from Donkvijver lake. City authorities responded by ramping up surveillance to deter further poaching activity.
The fish were released once the fisherman pulled the net out of the water. No additional poacher’s nets were found after the pond was examined.
“Such a net can be dangerous for water sports enthusiasts; they can become entangled in it, with all the consequences that entails,”
says Acting Mayor Elizabeth Meulemann. The city will now increase surveillance in and around the pond.
A big net submerged in water is called a poaching net. Although it is unlawful to use such a net, poachers can easily catch a lot of fish in a short period of time.
“We work closely with the fishing associations, which reported the presence of poaching nets to the municipality and the police,”
says Acting Mayor Elisabeth Meuleman (Meer dan groen).
“They removed the poaching net from the water and were also able to free several fish that had become entangled in it.”
Swimming is prohibited in Donkvijver, but water activities are permitted.
“There’s stand-up paddleboarding, wakeboarding, and a boat also sails on the pond to collect surfboards,”
says Meuleman. Various youth camps are also held on and around the pond during the summer.
“A poacher’s net can be dangerous for water sports enthusiasts; they can get entangled in it, with all the consequences that entails,”
says Meuleman.
“Employees from the adventure organization The Outsider have since checked the Donkvijver, and no other nets were found.”
The net was found Monday afternoon by fishermen at the Donkvijver in Oudenaarde, Belgium.
In the past, poachers’ nets have been found in the Donkvijver pond. Who put the net in the water and how long it had been there are unknown. As a result, the city is tightening its security surrounding the pond.
“The police are aware and will be conducting more frequent checks in the area around Donkvijver,”
says Meuleman.
“Community officers will also patrol the area more frequently.”
What prompted the city to increase surveillance around Donkvijver pond?
The city of Oudenaarde decided to increase surveillance around Donkvijver pond after fishermen discovered and removed a poacher’s net from the water, which posed significant safety risks.
Acting Mayor Elizabeth Meulemann highlighted that such illegal nets are dangerous for water sports enthusiasts—they can become entangled in the nets, potentially leading to serious accidents. To prevent future poaching activities and enhance public safety, the city plans to boost monitoring efforts in and around the pond.
The Donkvijver pond is part of Recreatiedomein De Donk, a large recreational area in Oudenaarde, Belgium, known for its emphasis on sporting recreation on and around the water .
