Overfishing threatens fish stocks in Deir Ezzor despite signs of improving stocks
This post is also available in: 
العربية
Fishermen in Deir Ezzor province are facing a decline in daily catches from the Euphrates River, amid the continued use of illegal fishing methods, most notably electric and dynamite fishing, which raises growing concerns about the future of fish wealth and the ecological balance in the river.
Security patrols in the governorate continue to conduct field tours on the banks of the Euphrates River, with the aim of reducing overfishing and controlling violations that threaten fish wealth and the river environment. These campaigns resulted in the arrest of a number of illegal fishermen and the taking of legal measures against them.
On the other hand, the General Authority for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources indicates that fish stocks have begun to record signs of improvement during the current year, coinciding with the rise in the water level of the Euphrates River and the tightening of control over illegal fishing practices.
Fishermen in the area believe that the continued use of electricity and explosives in fishing causes significant damage to fish stocks, and its impact is not limited to reducing current fishing quantities, but also threatens to decline the river’s ability to renew its fish wealth in the future.
The residents demand intensifying control over the banks of the Euphrates, and putting a final end to illegal fishing methods, in addition to cleaning the riverbed and treating sources of pollution, in a way that ensures the protection of the river environment and the sustainability of fish wealth.
Residents also stress the importance of providing a safer environment for residents and children in areas near the river, in parallel with applying laws against violators and enhancing awareness of the dangers of overfishing and the need to preserve natural resources.
Protecting fish wealth in the Euphrates River remains a shared responsibility that requires continued oversight, law enforcement, and support for fishermen through sustainable means and practices, in a way that preserves a vital resource for the people of the region and ensures its continuity for future generations.
