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Azerbaijan investigates mass fish die-off in Mingachevir section of River Kura

10 January 2009 10:43 (UTC +04:00)

At first it was supposed that the fishes had been poisoned, but death of only small fishes caused doubts. Experts of Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry and Mingachevir Veterinary Department monitored the site immediately. About 40 injured or dead fishes taken out of the river were examined in Mingachevir Scientific Laboratory of Zoology Institute of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Head of the laboratory Vidadi Yusifov said the fishes had not been poisoned, or died because hunters used electricity.
â€œThe fishes were injured, their heads cut, the fish scales were shed and this shows that the fishes struck against the valve of Mingachevir hydropower plant dam. Similar case occurred in that part of the River Kura 10 days ago. A lot of fishes died that day. About 50 fishes were examined in the lab and the results were similar. The fishes died as there are no special devices in the valve of hydropower plant dam to prevent fish from falling. Lack of special devices in the valve of hydropower plant dam in Yukhari Karabakh and Yukhari Shirvan water channels also cause serious damage on fish reserves of Mingachevir Reservoir. I want to touch upon a fact that 2-3000 tons of fish die in irrigated areas swimming via reservoirs . Illegal hunting is not only reason of decreasing of fish. Anormal regulation of water level and incorrect control of valve of hydropower plant dam caused death of hundreds of chub, shamai,â€ he said.
Yusifov noted that about 300 tons of fish passing through valve of Mingachevir Reservoir were injured in Karabakh channel and die .
He added that hydropower station decreased water level in 2007 and hundred thousands of fish died in it.
â€œIf water level is decreased gradually, fish can live there. Fish recourses of reservoirs established for hydropower stations should be taken into account. Mingachevir Hydropower Station should take mass loss of fish into account while regulating water level,â€ he added.
Yusifov stressed that special installations should be established to prevent fish to swim through reservoirs.