The water level in the Shamkir reservoir has decreased significantly, and its bioresources have been depleted
Cleaning and protection of water basins in Azerbaijan, prevention of depletion of biodiversity in waters are among the constitutional duties of every member of society. Recently, this issue has become very important.
The Globalized World Integration Public Union with the support of the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan implements the project “Monitoring of a number of water basins of the country and their biodiversity”. The purpose of the project is to help maintain and protect water basins in Azerbaijan, protect biodiversity in waters, restore control over water resources in Karabakh, maintain the beauty of nature and the cleanliness of the environment, and increase the attractiveness of the country in terms of tourism, especially ecotourism. Within the framework of the project, opinions and proposals related to the subject are learned from experts, public associations and social activists, interviews are prepared and distributed. In addition, as a result of the observations, reports about the current state of Azerbaijan’s water bodies and their bioresources are being published in the media.
This time, we present the report we prepared based on the observations we made in the Shamkir reservoir as part of the project.
Shamkir Reservoir — was created in Shamkir on the Kura River and put into use in 1982. According to official information, the total water capacity of the reservoir is 2677 mln. m³, and the useful volume is 1425 mln. is m³. The normal filling level of the reservoir is 158 m, the area of the water mirror is 115.0 km², the length from the top of the dam is 4500 m, and the height is 70 m. The reservoir is used to irrigate the lands of Shamkir, Samukh, Goygol, Goranboy districts.
From our observations and conversations with the local population, it became clear that the water level in the reservoir has decreased significantly.
Earlier, 20 types of fish lived in the reservoir, but now the number of fish species in the reservoir has decreased and there are 17 types of fish. However, this is official information. However, from our observations and conversations with the population, especially amateur fishermen, we came to the conclusion that the type and total number of fish in the reservoir has decreased to a dangerous level. According to amateur fishermen and local people, the main reason for this is the uncontrolled and illegal fishing of fish. In addition, overflowing the water of the reservoir for irrigation and spreading it around also causes the fish to be washed away and perish. Our observations also showed that nets were drawn almost every 10-15 meters in the reservoir. The presence of the remains of synthetic nets prohibited for hunting along the coast indicates that the fish is caught here both by prohibited methods and with prohibited nets. Amateur fishermen reported that the poachers started pulling these nets under the water in an invisible form, that is, in a way that people cannot remove from the shore. It is impossible to see them from the shore at first glance. Poachers nailed large plastic bottles to those nets just to see and locate them. Those plastic bottles are observed from the shore or with binoculars. At the time of our observation, 7-8 motor boats were busy with nets in the reservoir. Two of them approached the shore and sold the carp, whitefish and other fish they caught with the net to the customers waiting on the shore. Local people and amateur fishermen complain about such situations. According to them, it is impossible to find common carp, carp and other common fishes in the reservoir, and to catch them in an amateur way. Because their number has decreased too much and such naturally important fish have already been exhausted in the reservoir. However, long ago, other types of fish were abundant here. The population and amateur fishermen we asked for their opinion complained to the relevant authorities about the depletion of bioresources in the reservoir, and at the same time expressed their displeasure at the lack of any fight against poaching. They claim that people from different districts who specialize in fishing in the reservoir are poaching. One of the main dangerous issues is the depletion of fish by the method of throwing water into the water. Complainants reported that there were many people working in the reservoir. There are many fishing boats in various places on the shore of the reservoir.
In addition, the area is unsanitary due to neglect. Garbage left by people who come to eat and drink is clearly visible along the beach. The roads leading to the reservoir are in a bad condition. In most places, roads have collapsed and become impassable for vehicles.
Gorgud Agayev