In the Sughd region, one of the main natural areas for fish development is the Bahri Tojik reservoir, where several species of warm-water fish live and grow. During the spawning season and in the autumn–winter period, a decrease in the water level in the upper reaches of the reservoir sometimes causes small fish to remain trapped upstream and perish.
As an important and forward-looking measure, in accordance with the instructions of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and with the goal of preserving fish resources, the Main Department of Environmental Protection of the Sughd region has dug new canals using machinery. These canals create conditions for the movement of fish that remain in the upper reaches of Bahri Tojik (Borisovka Lake) in the city of Konibodom.
The upper part of Bahri Tojik, in early spring, serves as a natural spawning ground for fish and as a migration route for finding food. During the autumn and winter, the lowering of the water level leads to fish mortality.
For more than a month, with the use of machinery and under the supervision and consultation of specialists from the Department, scientists, and ichthyologists, canals were cleaned and fish migration routes were established.
At present, the excavation of main canals and the connection of tributaries to the reservoir have been divided into several sections and are being carried out, with additional work continuing. Every year, under the supervision and recommendation of the Department, up to two million fish fry are released into the Syr Darya River and the Bahri Tojik reservoir for reproduction. The construction of reclamation canals and the connection of tributaries make it possible to save millions of fish fry and increase fish resources.
It should be noted that the upper part of Bahri Tojik has been declared the “Bahri Tojik Natural Fish Breeding Area” by a decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. In the future, the development of this natural area will contribute to the growth of flora, birds, fish, and wildlife in the region.
