Ilegal night poaching decimate fish stocks in Kufa rivers

NAJAF — Fishermen along the Euphrates say Iraq’s river life is vanishing as illegal night fishing with electricity and toxins continues unchecked, wiping out native species already struggling against drought and pollution.

“Some people still use electric shock or toxins to catch fish, which kills everything in the water,” fishermen told 964media, calling for tighter monitoring and stronger enforcement to protect what remains of Iraq’s native fish.

Once home to species like bunni, qattan, and shabout, the rivers around Kufa now yield mostly tilapia — hardy but low in quality. “We used to catch big binni fish, but now we only find tilapia,” said fisherman Ahmed Al-Kallabi. “The low water and pollution have affected everything.”

Al-Kallabi said responsible anglers observe Iraq’s fishing calendar to preserve populations. “Fishing starts from the end of July until January, then breeding begins in March, and from that time until July, we stop fishing because it’s the spawning season,” he said. “Some people use electricity during that time, and we see no deterrent for them.”

Another fisherman, Ammar Ali, said declining water levels and the spread of electric fishing have sharply reduced reproduction. “We come to the river on different days of the week, but what we catch are small fish like shank and tilapia,” he said. “Electric fishing happens in many ways, especially at night, and sometimes we find no fish at all.”

Fishermen in Najaf say they try to protect what is left by returning fish carrying eggs to the river and avoiding breeding months, but warn that without proper enforcement, Iraq’s native fish could disappear from its rivers entirely.