Lucky fishermen turn out to be poachers

On April 25, photos of fishermen demonstrating their catch – a huge fish (around 35 kg) went viral on social networks. Inspired by the good luck of the network heroes, many people also went for fishing.

Kun.uz correspondent appealing to specialists, considered the other side of the “coin”.

According to representative of the Association “Uzbekbaliksanoat”, the heroes in the photos are ordinary poachers.

“There is nothing to be happy about it,” the deputy chairman of the association Shukhrat Rakhmatov said. These acts should not be advertised, on the contrary, their disastrous consequences need to be understood. Someone leases a reservoir, breeds fry, buys food, and someone else at night catches fish for personal benefit, and even boasts of it on the Internet”.

As it turned out, these days in Uzbekistan, fishing in natural waters is prohibited.

In all regions of the country, with the exception of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Khorezm region, from April 15 to June 1, fishing in natural water is prohibited (in the above two regions – from May 25 to June 10). However, during these periods, poaching reaches its peak.

According to the head of the department at the “Uzbekbaliksanoat” Association Kamolkhuja Ismailhodjayev, during this time of the year fish goes to the shoal for throwing caviar. “During this period, fish becomes less active and poachers often kill fish in shallow water with sticks and armature. At other time of the year, it would be much more difficult to catch such a big fish,” he explained. 

In global practice, such actions have a specific name – theft.

According to representatives of the fish industry, 10-15% of the body weight of a female fish is her calf.

“If the weight of the fish is 30 kg, then it should have swept at least 3 kg of caviar. In 1 kg of caviar – 1 million eggs, which means in 3 kg - 3 million eggs. With the survival of at least half of the eggs, 1.5 million of them would turn into larvae, and then 1 million larvae would become fry. So the photo confirms the loss of 1 million fish, and this is poaching,” Shukhrat Rakhmatov says.

According to representatives of the “Uzbekbaliksanoat” Association, there is no criminal prosecution for poaching in Uzbekistan’s legislation. Administrative measures do not produce the desired effect.

Tenants of natural reservoirs are powerless against poachers due to the lack of legislation. And administrative punishment does not frighten them,” Rakhmatov adds.

According to experts, responsibility against the importation and use of items of illegal fishing should be strengthened.