Protecting Freshwater Fish Resources through Community Education
Termez State University provides educational outreach aimed at raising public awareness of overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and destructive fishing practices affecting freshwater ecosystems in Surkhandarya Region.
The programme draws on the scientific expertise of the university's Faculty of Natural Sciences and Department of Zoology, connecting research on aquatic biodiversity with environmental education for communities living near rivers, reservoirs and other natural and artificial water bodies.
The university's educational work recognises the importance of protecting freshwater fish populations, particularly in areas where fishing contributes to local livelihoods and where unsustainable harvesting can threaten aquatic biodiversity.
Its published institutional records describe cooperation with the O‘zbekbaliqsanoat Association and the Surkhandarya Regional Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change to communicate responsible fishing practices and raise awareness of the environmental consequences of unlawful fish harvesting.
Community Awareness of Overfishing and Illegal Fishing
The university's earlier sustainability reporting documents educational discussions involving Zoology Department specialists, environmental authorities and residents of communities located near natural freshwater bodies.
These activities addressed the consequences of excessive fish harvesting, the importance of maintaining viable fish populations and the need to protect aquatic resources during sensitive biological periods.
Specialists explained how uncontrolled fishing can reduce fish stocks and interfere with natural reproduction. Particular attention was given to the responsibility of fishers to consider the condition of local fish populations rather than focusing exclusively on immediate catches.
The educational discussions also addressed illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, including fishing without the necessary permissions, using prohibited equipment, disregarding seasonal restrictions and failing to comply with requirements for the recording and management of catches.
By communicating these issues to residents and community organisations, the university contributes scientific knowledge to local efforts to prevent the depletion of freshwater biological resources.
Preventing Destructive Fishing Methods
A distinctive component of the university's outreach concerns the environmental damage caused by destructive fishing techniques.
Its institutional reports specifically identify the use of electric current to catch fish as a harmful practice requiring public awareness and prevention.
Electrical fishing methods can kill or injure aquatic organisms indiscriminately, including immature fish and other species that are not the intended catch. Their effects may extend beyond commercially valuable fish to the wider freshwater ecosystem.
The university's educational materials therefore emphasise the need to avoid destructive fishing methods and to recognise the consequences of practices that threaten aquatic biodiversity.
The legal framework relevant to this work includes Uzbekistan Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 80 of 9 February 2024, which establishes fishing regulations for natural water bodies.
These regulations prohibit methods involving electric current, explosives, chemical substances and other specified destructive practices. They also establish restrictions on unregistered fishing equipment, protected species and prohibited fishing periods.
The university's awareness activities provide a scientific and environmental context for understanding why such restrictions are necessary.
Protecting Fish Populations during Spawning Seasons
Seasonal protection of fish populations is another important subject within the university's educational outreach.
The university's earlier community education records describe guidance encouraging residents to refrain from fishing during reproductive periods and to consider the long-term sustainability of fish stocks.
These messages are consistent with Uzbekistan's national freshwater fishing regulations, which establish seasonal closures designed to protect fish during spawning.
For the 2025 fishing season, the national regulations provided for fishing restrictions from 11 March to 31 May in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, with different dates applying to certain other natural water bodies.
In March 2025, Uzbekistan's environmental authorities publicly reiterated these restrictions, explaining that fishing during spawning periods can diminish fish populations and threaten the survival of vulnerable species.
The university's educational approach connects these conservation requirements with scientific explanations of fish reproduction, population recovery and the ecological consequences of excessive harvesting.
Scientific Expertise and Forensic Zoological Examination
Termez State University's educational activities are supported by specialist research and zoological examination capabilities.
The Faculty of Natural Sciences maintains a forensic zoological examination service (Sud-zoologik ekspertiza), which the university identifies as a resource for assessing animals and fish obtained through suspected illegal harvesting.
The university's published SDG evidence describes the examination of fish associated with illegal fishing cases, including species identification and the preparation of expert findings.
This capability connects academic expertise with the practical requirements of biodiversity protection.
Species identification is particularly important when authorities need to distinguish protected or vulnerable fish from commonly harvested species and establish the ecological significance of illegal catches.
The university's scientific research also provides relevant regional information. Research undertaken in 2024 into the fish fauna of Surkhandarya's water bodies identified 37 fish species belonging to 34 genera, 15 families and seven orders.
These findings strengthen the scientific basis for understanding the region's aquatic biodiversity and the conservation challenges facing natural fish populations.
Collaboration with Environmental and Fisheries Organisations
The university's cooperation with fisheries and environmental organisations supports the exchange of knowledge between academic specialists, regulatory institutions and local communities.
Its published outreach framework identifies cooperation with the O‘zbekbaliqsanoat Association and the regional environmental authority as an important means of promoting responsible fishing.
The university's Zoology Department also works with regional fisheries enterprises on fish biology, species identification, aquatic health and sustainable fisheries management.
Related training activities have reached fish-farming enterprises across Surkhandarya, supporting the dissemination of scientific knowledge on fish production and aquatic-resource management.
These relationships provide opportunities to communicate the distinction between controlled aquaculture and the unsustainable harvesting of wild fish populations.
The university's community education activities focus on increasing awareness of how legal compliance, responsible harvesting and biodiversity conservation contribute to maintaining healthy freshwater ecosystems.
Educational Resources and Environmental Engagement
The university complements public outreach with educational and research resources in zoology, ichthyology and ecology.
Its Ichthyology curriculum covers fish classification, biology, distribution, ecology and the conservation of fish resources. Practical education includes identifying fish species and understanding environmental pressures affecting freshwater populations.
Although formal degree teaching is distinct from public outreach, this academic expertise provides a foundation for information shared with fishers, environmental personnel and surrounding communities.
The university's wider environmental engagement also addresses freshwater pollution, waste management and the protection of river ecosystems. Such activities help communicate the broader relationship between water quality, aquatic habitats and the sustainability of fish populations.
Through cooperation with regional environmental authorities, community education on responsible harvesting, awareness of destructive fishing methods and specialist zoological expertise, Termez State University maintains an institutional programme for promoting the conservation and responsible use of freshwater fish resources.