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The number of environmental infringements dropped

An overview of the Environmental Inspectorate in 2011 demonstrates an annual decrease in the number of environmental infringements. Whereas a total of 2,607 environmental infringements were registered in 2010, this figure dropped to 2,326 in 2011.

“Compared to 2009, there were 1,500 less infringements, which is a good trend. People care more for nature and want to protect it. Factors contributing to the decrease of offenses include public condemnation, better awareness and the good work of the Inspectorate. Fortunately, the days when destructive actions or just careless behaviour in nature were the norm are over,” said Keit Pentus, the Minister of the Environment.

Similarly to earlier years, the largest share of infringements last year was registered in fishing, a total of 1,420 infringements. Waste and forest infringements followed, with 266 and 155 infringements, respectively. The remaining infringements fell on twelve other areas.

For the infringements, a total of 1,205 persons were charged with misdemeanour and fined in the amount of 197,517 euros (an average fine of 163.9 euros).  A cautionary fine for imposed for 35 persons and an oral warning was imposed on 152 persons. Also, a total of 24 injunctions were granted.

The damages caused by offences were assessed in the amount of 288,155 euros, most of which (or 125,716.39) euros were damaged related to mining. In general, the issue of mining is improving: there were no significant new cases of infringements.

In the area of forest, there were twelve cases of infringements resulting in environmental damage in the total amount of 88,140.53 euros; in the area of fishing, there were 61 infringements causing damages in the amount of 52,134.28 euros. Environmental damages were caused also by infringement of hunting regulations and the protection regulations of natural features under protection.

According to counties, most infringements were committed in Harjumaa (448), which was followed by Ida-Virumaa (297), Tartumaa (295) and Pärnumaa (277). Fishing infringements made up a large proportion of infringements in all these counties. In Ida-Virumaa and Pärnumaa, the largest damage sums were also related to fishing.

“We are trying to focus on fields and activities that have the largest impact on the environment and thus cause larger environmental damages. For example, infringements caused by commercial fishing will definitely cause a larger damage than those committed by hobby fishermen,” explained Olav Avarsalu, General Manager of the Environmental Inspectorate.

“We also pay closer attention to prevention and information which will help us prevent environmentally hazardous activities and larger damages. And concerning punishments - we are more lenient in cases of minor infringements and we try to inform people. Naturally, in the case of repeat and serious infringements we are much stricter,” added Mr Avarsalu.

In September 2011 the Environmental Inspectorate became an investigative body, meaning that the Inspectorate will also carry out pre-trial investigations under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office. Last year, the Inspectorate accepted 26 criminal matters, which were mostly related to infringements in the field of forestry, fishing and subsurface mining. Investigations have been completed in three matters and the corresponding materials have been submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Although there are no significant changes in the figures of 2010 and 2011, a comparison with earlier years demonstrates a marked drop in the number of environmental infringements: the Inspectorate registered a total of 3,834 infringements in 2009 and 2,649 infringements in 2008.

Supervision data (according to counties and subjects) are available on the Inspectorate’s website: (Supervision > Environmental Supervision Data).