cabar.asia
Tajikistan: The authorities are concerned about the growing volume of illegal fishing
Despite the fact that Tajik legislation imposes fines and sanctions for illegal fishing, some residents of the southern Khatlon region continue to do so, justifying themselves by the fact that they have no permanent job or any other source of income.
photo: www.pixabay.com
photo: www.pixabay.com
Sadullo (name changed) is a 40-year-old Khatlon man who was deported from Russia five years ago. He has been unemployed for many years. He is willing to do whatever he can to help his family.
It is difficult to find work in his home district, which is located in one of the remote regions of the south of the country. A year ago, friends invited him to go fishing, which is not allowed by law, and he has decided to do it. Even though he knows it's illegal to fish in the country's lakes and rivers with electric devices.
It is difficult to find work in his home district, which is located in one of the remote regions of the south of the country. A year ago, friends invited him to go fishing, which is not allowed by law, and he has decided to do it. Even though he knows it's illegal to fish in the country's lakes and rivers with electric devices.
"We use an electric motor. When electricity hits the water, the fish pop up. We don't go out fishing every day, because we can be identified," Sadullo said.
Anvar is another young man from the Dusti area.
Anvar is fishing with his friends in southern Tajikistan. "We can't sell this fish in the markets, we can be detained for that. We deliver it to restaurants in Dushanbe and Bokhtar," he said.
These fishermen are reluctant to talk about their business, but they say they catch fish secretly at night. The Khatlon region Department of Nature Protection says they keep informing residents of cities and districts that people are obliged to report them if they see poachers.
photo: www.freepik.com
These fishermen are reluctant to talk about their business, but they say they catch fish secretly at night. The Khatlon region Department of Nature Protection says they keep informing residents of cities and districts that people are obliged to report them if they see poachers.
photo: www.freepik.com
Authorities in Khatlon province are highly concerned about the use of electric fishing devices, as it can destroy the fish's laid eggs.
Turajon Isokzoda, head of the environmental protection department of Shahrituz district, which is 230 kilometers to the south of Dushanbe, said that he detains fishermen who fish with electric gadgets. These poachers caused 7,000 somonis (about $619) damage to the district in 2021.
Turajon Isokzoda, head of the environmental protection department of Shahrituz district, which is 230 kilometers to the south of Dushanbe, said that he detains fishermen who fish with electric gadgets. These poachers caused 7,000 somonis (about $619) damage to the district in 2021.
"A group of fishermen from Jaloliddini Balkhi district came to Shahrituz district (southern Tajikistan). They were fishing using electric tools. We detained and fined them. And there are quite a few cases like this," Isokzoda said.
"One fish confiscated from a hunter is worth 63 somonis ($5.88). Each fish is fined the same amount. But there are other kinds of fish that are rarely found in our rivers, for which the fines are higher," Isokzoda said.
Many fishermen use tasers, which not only kill the fish but also endanger other aquatic life.
Many fishermen use tasers, which not only kill the fish but also endanger other aquatic life.
Fishermen using electric devices when fishing
Mahmadsharif Kurbonov, an environmental protection officer in the Kubodiyon district, said that several fishermen were detained on the banks of the Kofarnihon River using electrical devices when fishing, which caused significant damage.
"In 2021, there were two cases of electrofishing in the area. One of them from the Kubodien district killed 1,200 fish in just one hunt in the Kofarnihon River. The man was part of a group of poachers that we have been looking for two years with the help of security personnel. The damage they caused was estimated at 728,000 TJS ($64,454.83)," said Mahmadsharif Kurbonov.
"In 2021, there were two cases of electrofishing in the area. One of them from the Kubodien district killed 1,200 fish in just one hunt in the Kofarnihon River. The man was part of a group of poachers that we have been looking for two years with the help of security personnel. The damage they caused was estimated at 728,000 TJS ($64,454.83)," said Mahmadsharif Kurbonov.
According to the Khatlon court, one of the poachers, Abdugafor Khushbakhtov, was already serving a sentence from April to December 2021 for illegal fishing with electric devices and was released from criminal responsibility after paying a fine for the damage caused.
The Association of Fishermen, an organization whose mission is to protect fish in the country's rivers and lakes, told CABAR.asia that they are putting juvenile fish into lakes and rivers in order to increase the number of fish.
Alimahmad Gulov, head of this Association, said that last year more than two million juvenile fish were released into the Nurek reservoir and other reservoirs and lakes. But illegal fishing raises concerns.
The Association of Fishermen, an organization whose mission is to protect fish in the country's rivers and lakes, told CABAR.asia that they are putting juvenile fish into lakes and rivers in order to increase the number of fish.
Alimahmad Gulov, head of this Association, said that last year more than two million juvenile fish were released into the Nurek reservoir and other reservoirs and lakes. But illegal fishing raises concerns.
"We hear that the fish are being caught with electric tools, this leads to the extinction of fish and the death of the young fish. They say that fish species like white amur are declining in our rivers. This kind of fishing is very dangerous, it kills frogs and other aquatic creatures. This poses a serious threat to Tajikistan's ecology," Gulov said.
photo: 1obl.ru
On the road to Nurek, a town about an hour's drive from the capital, on the bank of the Vakhsh River, there is a place that is locally known as the "golden fish". There are more than 20 fish shops where fish gets fried and sold. It is a very popular place among Tajikistanis because they sell freshly caught river fish.
One of the vendors, a woman named Gulandom, said she buys the fish from fishermen, but she does not know where they bring it from.
One of the vendors, a woman named Gulandom, said she buys the fish from fishermen, but she does not know where they bring it from.
"They tell us they catch it in the river. River fish tastes different than lake fish, it's tastier, so there's a lot of demand for it. And that's why we have so many buyers," she said.
Some 14 species of fish have already disappeared from the country's rivers, environmentalist Shamsiddin Rakhimov said. One reason is electrofishing.
"This hunting not only kills large fish but also juveniles and fish eggs. Frogs, snakes, and waterfowl are also being killed. The increase in this type of hunting is very alarming. It needs to be strictly controlled and penalties for this kind of hunting must be increased," Shamsiddin Rakhimov said.
The Nature and Environment Protection Department of Khatlon Region told CABAR.asia that criminal proceedings were initiated against 14 residents of the region under Article 231 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan, a violation of fish stock protection rules. All of them were illegally catching fish using electric cables and fishing gear.
photo: kyshtym24.ru
"This hunting not only kills large fish but also juveniles and fish eggs. Frogs, snakes, and waterfowl are also being killed. The increase in this type of hunting is very alarming. It needs to be strictly controlled and penalties for this kind of hunting must be increased," Shamsiddin Rakhimov said.
The Nature and Environment Protection Department of Khatlon Region told CABAR.asia that criminal proceedings were initiated against 14 residents of the region under Article 231 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan, a violation of fish stock protection rules. All of them were illegally catching fish using electric cables and fishing gear.
photo: kyshtym24.ru
Some 14 species of fish have already disappeared from the country's rivers, environmentalist Shamsiddin Rakhimov said. One reason is electrofishing.
"This hunting not only kills large fish but also juveniles and fish eggs. Frogs, snakes, and waterfowl are also being killed. The increase in this type of hunting is very alarming. It needs to be strictly controlled and penalties for this kind of hunting must be increased," Shamsiddin Rakhimov said.
The Nature and Environment Protection Department of Khatlon Region told CABAR.asia that criminal proceedings were initiated against 14 residents of the region under Article 231 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan, a violation of fish stock protection rules. All of them were illegally catching fish using electric cables and fishing gear.
Tajik fish is not exported, but its prices are not always affordable to residents of the country. Murodzhon Mahmadkarimov, a resident of Bokhtar city, said he can only afford to buy fish once every two months.
"This hunting not only kills large fish but also juveniles and fish eggs. Frogs, snakes, and waterfowl are also being killed. The increase in this type of hunting is very alarming. It needs to be strictly controlled and penalties for this kind of hunting must be increased," Shamsiddin Rakhimov said.
The Nature and Environment Protection Department of Khatlon Region told CABAR.asia that criminal proceedings were initiated against 14 residents of the region under Article 231 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan, a violation of fish stock protection rules. All of them were illegally catching fish using electric cables and fishing gear.
Tajik fish is not exported, but its prices are not always affordable to residents of the country. Murodzhon Mahmadkarimov, a resident of Bokhtar city, said he can only afford to buy fish once every two months.
"They tell us that they catch it in the river. River fish tastes different from lake fish, it's tastier, so there's a big demand for it. And that's why we have so many customers," she said.
"It's expensive, a kilogram of fish costs 40 to 50 somonis (3.5 to 4.5 dollars)," he said.
photo: yandex.ru
photo: yandex.ru
Residents say the price is not dropping, despite the increase in its production. And producers cite the fact that they buy food for fish in Russian cities and will not make a profit if they sell it cheaply.
Officially, fishing with ordinary fishing rods is allowed in the country, except during the spawning period - from March to the end of May. Industrial fishing in Tajikistan is allowed only at certain times and only at specialized fisheries.
Officially, fishing with ordinary fishing rods is allowed in the country, except during the spawning period - from March to the end of May. Industrial fishing in Tajikistan is allowed only at certain times and only at specialized fisheries.
This material was prepared within the framework of the IWPR project "Amplify, Verify, Engage: Information for Democratisation and Good Governance in Eurasia", funded by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, and the mentoring program of the "Development of New Media and Digital Journalism in Central Asia" project, implemented by the Institute for War Reporting and Peace (IWPR) with the support of the UK Government. The content of this publication does not reflect the official views of IWPR, the Norwegian Foreign Office, or the UK Government.
