The timing of the spawning ban for different fish species should be differentiated. The rights of fish inspectors in terms of checking the origin of fish in transport and trade should be expanded. The role of public inspectors should be strengthened. Such recommendations were formulated by the public associations “Ecospectrum” of Bender and “Eco-Tiras” of Chisinau, which during a year implemented a project to assess the scale of poaching on the Nistru/Dniester River with the involvement of civil society. As many as 363 violations of fishing rules and cases of poaching - 148 on the right side of the Nistru and 215 on the left side - were identified as part of this project.
In a news conference hosted by IPN, “Ecospectrum” head Ivan Ignatiev said that a number of recommendations were formulated within the project, including increasing the organizational capacity of fish protection agencies, differentiating the timing of the spawning ban for different fish species, strengthening the role of ichthyological councils under the environmental agencies from both banks of the Nistru and improving transboundary cooperation with Ukraine in the protection of fish resources.
A number of meetings were held as part of the project, including a roundtable entitled “Public monitoring of poaching on the Dniester as one of the ways to preserve and restore the fish stocks of the Dniester”. The event was attended by representatives of environmental departments, fisheries inspection, the scientific community and associations of amateur fishermen from both banks of the Dniester. The participants discussed the need to harmonize fishing rules and lists of fish species prohibited for catching on both banks of the Dniester, the need to expand the powers of fish inspections, in terms of carrying out control measures in places where caught fish are sold. It was underlined the necessity of strengthening the responsibility of amateur fishermen for compliance with the rules of fishing and the differentiation of fines in case of their violation.
According to the organizers, the participants in the roundtable supported the proposal to restore the institute of public fish inspectors, as well as the need to strengthen scientific monitoring of fish populations by resuming control catches for scientific purposes, etc.
Doctor of biology Ilia Trombitski, executive director of “Eco-Tiras” International Environmental Association of River Keepers of Moldova, said the time is opportune to improve the situation in terms of legislation on biodiversity, etc. The current legislation does not even stipulate the term ‘poaching’. But there is industrial poaching in case of fish and the authorities should combat this. The role of public inspectors should be increased.
Ilia Trombitski noted that more detailed information about the project activities and their results will be presented in the final roundtable meeting entitled “Cooperation between public society from both sides of the Nistru in the conservation and restoration of fishery resources”. In Chisinau, this event will be held on May 19, while in Tiraspol – on May 26.
Alexandru Moșu, ichthyopathologist of “AcvaGenResurs”, said that such projects and such activities are extremely important for stopping stealing on the Nistru. The origin of fish in selling places is a problem. More exactly, if specialists and researches are involved, these can easily determine where the sold fish was caught.
The one-year project “Public Assessment of Poaching on the Dniester” is carried out in the framework of the EU Confidence Building Measures Program that is implemented by UNDP with the financial support of the EU. The goal of the project was to involve the public in the process of monitoring and reducing the negative impact of poaching on fish stocks and biodiversity of the Dniester
Note: IPN News Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider they were touched by the news items produced based on statements of the organizers of the given news conference, including by facilitating the organization of another news conference in similar conditions.
