14:34 / 27.06.2025

Illegal fishing in the Syr Darya: a half-billion-dollar blow to nature

In Sirdarya region, in order to prevent criminal acts against nature protection, a special rapid preventive measure was carried out by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change. As part of the event, a serious violation of the law related to illegal fishing in the Syrdarya River was detected through cooperation between state ecological control inspectors and law enforcement agencies.

During the raid, inspectors noticed a “Moskvich” brand car coming from the Syrdarya River. The vehicle was stopped, and during the inspection of its trunk, several items prohibited by law and caught fish were discovered. According to the inspection results, the following were found in the trunk:
1 electric fishing rod
1 rubber boat
3 batteries
19 fish of various types

It was revealed that these fish had been illegally caught, and most of them belonged to protected and significant species. Among the caught fish:
2 white amur (a species playing an important role in the ecosystem)
7 white-eye fish
9 sandfish
1 Turkestan barbel listed in the Red Book

The Turkestan barbel (Latin name: Aspiolucius esocinus) is a species under threat of extinction in Uzbekistan and the region and is under special protection by UNESCO and listed in the national Red Book. Catching this species is not only a legal offense but is also considered a blatant attack on biological diversity.

Fishing with electric rods is not only prohibited but also poses a serious environmental threat. Under the influence of electricity, other aquatic organisms — including plants and valuable fish — also die. This method can destroy the biosystem of water reservoirs and upset the natural balance.

According to calculations, the damage caused to wildlife as a result of this illegal fishing amounted to 495 million soums. This figure reflects not only material but also immeasurable ecological damage.

Currently, all documents regarding the incident have been submitted to the relevant law enforcement agencies, and strict legal measures are expected to be taken against the offenders. Experts in the field of ecology and environmental protection emphasize that the increase in such cases poses a great threat to the environment.

Ecologists are calling on the population to completely refrain from such illegal fishing methods and to preserve nature’s resources for future generations.