KHUJAND, January 29, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Sughd environmental protection authorities are taking measures to preserve the Syr Darya fish reserves.

The source at the Sughd department for environmental protection says the department will pay a cash award for detention of poachers using electric fishing equipment.

“The wildlife and fish reserve protection unit of the department has a staff of only eight persons,” said the source, “It is not enough to control the Syr Darya basin up to the Farkhad hydropower plant, Uzbek border.  It is nearly 200 kilometers.”

Fishing season is now open in Sughd province; it is just prohibited to fish for European carp, the source added.  Researchers have found more than 40 species of fishes in rivers and reservoirs of Sughd province, and some of them have entered Red Book as endangered species.