SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — As fishermen retrieve their nets following the lifting of the seasonal fishing ban, concerns mount over declining fish populations in the Little Zab river in the Kurdistan Region.
Ali Mohammed, head of the local fishermen, highlighted several factors contributing to the decline: Electricity use for fishing, inadequate conservation measures, and reduced fish activity due to hot weather.
Certain fish species are being caught during their breeding season, prompting calls for earlier enforcement of fishing bans.
Local fishermen report a significant decline in fish compared to last year, prompting calls for stricter measures against illegal fishing to sustain local fish stocks.
Illegal fishing and weather changes have caused a drastic decline in the fish population of Sulaimani's Lake Dukan. This environmental crisis has forced local fishermen to exclusively market their catches within nearby markets.
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Shwan Taha, a local fishmonger, noted price variations due to dwindling supplies. Prices range from 1,000 to 8,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram. Continued declines have limited fish transport to southern Iraqi provinces, selling their fish only in the local markets.
During the ban, environmental police seized illegal fishing gear and apprehended 64 individuals.
Efforts to protect fish habitats include plans for a specialized police station near the lake, according to forest and environment police department in Sulaimani’s Raparin admiration.
