Scientists Call for Ban on Trawl Fishing in Azov Sea

Specialists from the Azov Research Institute of Fisheries (AzNIIRH) in their monograph Fishery Potential of the Azov Sea call for an urgent ban on any trawl fishing in the Azov Sea. Until 2013, such fishing was prohibited, but then it was reinstated at Ukraine«s insistence.

Scientists explain the necessity of the ban with several factors. Stocks of sprat and goby continue to decline, which reduces the efficiency of trawl fishing. Moreover, the mass spread of jellyfish and the increase in their lifespan have made autumn ship-based anchovy fishing with trawls unprofitable.

«By now, all biological grounds have emerged for introducing a complete ban on any ship-based trawl fishing in the waters of the Azov Sea, which until 2013 was under strict prohibition for many decades and was introduced in 2013 in a limited »experimental« mode »temporarily« only at Ukraine»s insistence,« the study authors assert.

The main reason for the initial ban in Soviet times was the incompatibility of trawl fishing with programs to restore sturgeon fish populations.

«If the goal is to rapidly develop sturgeon farming in the Azov Sea, then the introduction of a complete ban on any trawl fishing in the Azov Sea should be implemented without delay,» experts from AzNIIRH are convinced.

As an alternative to trawls, scientists propose implementing new designs of purse seines. These fishing gears can be used for catching anchovy and sprat, and in the future, mullet as well.

Previously, AzNIIRH also advised the small fishing fleet to reorient from harvesting goby, anchovy, and sprat to fishing for invertebrates.