Such indigenous fish species as carp, perch and bream are in danger of becoming extinct, while the species sturgeon, which is very attractive from economic viewpoint, practically stopped existing. Specialists say the situation can be remedied by setting up an artificial fish reproduction center for maintaining and developing the water resources of Moldova.

Vice director of the Fish Breeding Service Ion Grati has told IPN that a number of species of fish living in the Prut River were affected by the works to build the Giurgiulesti Port. This refers mainly to species that migrated from the Danube to the Prut and upstream of Costesti-Stanca. Also, the works to widen the port area, performed permanently where the Prut flows into the Danube, prevent the fish from migrating from the Danube to the Prut. “Until the port started to be built, the fish migrated feely from the Danube into the Prut and back. Now this is not possible,” said Ion Grati.

He also said that several artificial fish reproduction centers worked earlier in Moldova, but these disappeared in time. “When the hydroelectric station was built in Dubasari, there were set up two artificial fish breeding centers, in Oxentea and Molovata, so as to restore the fish populations affected by the construction works. These centers were destroyed and then sold to a private individual. A similar center was built in Badragi when the barrage was erected in Costesti-Stanca. It was also destroyed and sold. As a result, the aquatic fauna of the Prut and Nistru Rivers diminished,” stated Ion Grati.

In Moldova there is no artificial center for reproducing valuable fish species, which are now more exposed to the danger of extinction.