A local participatory plan for protecting the natural spawning area of the
anadromous fish in Dinachal River (Caspian Basin)
Mahdieh Jafari
1
, Mohammad Hossein Toloei
2
, Behrooz Abtahi
1
, Zohreh Shemshadi
3
1
Life Sciences and biotechnology faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, sbu.gc, Tehran, Iran,
2
Miras Caviar Co. Senior specialist
3
Women's Association for Combating Environmental Pollution (Environmental NGO)
Keywords: Participatory protection, Biodiversity, Dinachal River, Caspian Basin, Spawning
area
Introduction
Caspian Basin is one of the most important watersheds in Iran. Today's data and research
indicate that the environmental degradation of chemical and physical contamination,
negative
effects of climate change, the destruction of natural spawning area, unplanned
fishing and the presence of barriers, such as dams, have greatly reduced indigenous and
valuable fish stocks, and species diversity they have been threatened. So that the
valuable fish such as sturgeon and
Rutilus frisii kutum migration in the river basin of the
Caspian Sea is very limited or impossible. Also, some species, such as
Salmo trutta
caspius
,
Aspius
aspius
,
Abramis brama and Barbus capito
of
the Caspian Sea, are subject
in extinction for mention reasons
.
Caspian commercial stocks are showing decreasing
trend, except Kutum, wels (catfish), pike, and small freshwater fishes
(
Khodorevskaya
et al. 2014
)
. The rivers of the Caspian Sea, as the spawning place of fish, have an
important role in the survival of various species of fish.
Considering that each year Iran's fisheries spend a large amount on artificial propagation
of
valuable fish such as sturgeon, R.f.Kutum and some species, despite these valuable
efforts it seems that restoring stock and protecting natural habitats as is not enough.
As human factors can play a negative role in the destruction of habitat, indigenous
people can play a very important role in protecting their natural resources. In fact, the
key to sustainable conservation is the empowerment and awareness of local
communities.
The plan seeks to support the promotion of indigenous and
migratory aquatic
communities along the river in order to protect and restore natural spawning grounds by
fostering trust, participation, reflection, education and support for local communities
along the river. As Conservation aquaculture is a branch of science derived from
conservation and population recovery studies on endangered fishes, the major
goal of
this plan was the protection the natural spawning area of indigenous and migratory fish
of the Dinachal River, by fostering trust, participation, reflection, education local
communities. Field of this plan was biodiversity protection, capacity building for the use
of data for the purpose of promotion, Strengthen accountability and project type was
capacity building and empowerment.
Materials and Methods
Project location
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Dinachal River (37˚ 35́ 0́́́́ ́ N, 49˚ 3́ 0́ ́ E) is one of the major rivers of south of Caspian Sea
(IRRAN, Guilan province) (Mohammadighaleni, 2015), located in Rezvanshahr, a place for
migrating fish to spawn. Project was done in January to March 2017.
Project tools
1.
Software and necessary information
2.
Vehicle
3.
Educational supplies (white paper, banner, whiteboard, marker, poster, replica, video
projector, etc.)
4.
Requirements for holding workshops (training tools, receptions, etc.)
5.
Workshop location
Performing project
1.
Determining the river for the project
2.
Collecting essential information and holding specialized meetings for decision making
3.
Visit the village adjacent to the river and initial acquaintance with the Village Council,
rustic chairman
4.
Conduct a symposium for cooperation and the formation
of a local group and
increase the sensitivity of the local community
5.
Establish a local organization to examine the status of the village especially the
river using the participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA )method
6.
Provide a method of enforcement by the local organization
7.
Evaluation of measures
8.
Reporting
9.
Presentation of the second phase of the project based on the results of the first
phase
Results
The PRA method results showed this River is adjacent to the village of Safar Mahallah,
which has a population of 500 people. The main occupation of rural people is agriculture
(rice) and animal husbandry (cattle and buffalo) and free occupations. Unauthorized
fishing is not in desirable condition and about 20-30 local fishermen (about 10-11 boat)
has been fishing in this river in March. There are two gravel harvesting workshops along
the way, which work according to the license. Agricultural water drain is often not
considered a forest area and is not a threat to the river.
The Dinachal River is not hunted
by a fishing rifle, and the catch is carried out only by net and hook.
The suggestions and
comments provided were; To prevent the entry of motor vehicles to
the coastline near the river mouth until the end of the project (March 2017) (with the
necessary coordination), Demand from indigenous fishermen to shut off the boat engine
from the entrance to the river and on the river, Installation the banner, the theme of the
project, which was previously presented to the respectable village dignitaries at the
parking.
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