'There's nothing left'
Illegal fishing practices deplete fish population in Najaf’s Al-Mishkhab River
NAJAF — Jaafar Al-Jubouri, 15, has watched his favorite pastime of fishing dwindle over the past three weeks by the banks of Al-Mishkhab River, outside his home in Najaf.
According to Al-Jubouri, the fish population in the river has drastically decreased due to illegal fishing practices involving electric currents and a lack of enforcement by river patrols. He has appealed to local environmental activists to help preserve the aquatic life.
“I am saddened by the state of Al-Mishkhab River,” Al-Jubouri told 964media. “The fish aren’t as plentiful as they once were, largely because of’ fishing boats operating without sufficient deterrence.”
Al-Jubouri, who often fishes with his nephew, said they now spend hours at the river with little to show for it. “We used to catch various fish here. Now, there’s nothing left, even though I’ve been coming to the river for weeks,” he said.
Jamal Abdul Zaid, Director of Najaf Environment, acknowledged the challenges and noted his agency’s role is to oversee and direct enforcement efforts. “Fishing with electric currents is illegal and damaging to the ecosystem. We also prohibit nets with small openings and have notified the river police,” Zaid said.
He added, “We met with the river police yesterday to discuss strategies to combat illegal fishing in Najaf’s rivers and water bodies.”
Zaid Ali, an environmental activist, emphasized the importance of transparency in conservation efforts. “I urge the Najaf Environment Directorate to publicly disclose which aquatic species have been lost in our rivers to increase public awareness of the impact of illegal fishing,” Ali told 964media.
He highlighted the disappearance of the Euphrates softshell turtle, now extinct on the shores of the governorate, as a significant loss to local biodiversity.
Basra's leading expert in rust removal for fishing boats
