In November 2014 in Zaporozhye, as part of the public ecological initiative “Save Dnieper together!”, led by “Zaporizhstal” Steel Works and the Zaporozhye regional organization of the “Fisherman and Hunters Association of Ukraine” (FHAU), a large scale stocking of the Dnieper river took place with more than 33 thousand species of silver carp released into the river.
Campaigns were held in two stages on November 6 and 13, 2014, during which more than 33 thousand species of silver carp were released into the Dnieper river's water area. The joint campaign “Save Dnieper together” has been arranged by “Zaporizhstal” Steel Works and the regional association of fishermen and hunters for the third consecutive year since 2012, with more than 80 thousand species of fish stocked in the river over this period.
Silver carp acts as a biological meliorator of water bodies, serving as a natural sanitary assistant for water storage lakes. During the summer months when water blooms occur, it actively consumes blue-green and brown algae, thereby purifying the water.
November is an advantageous time for fish stocking as the water temperature is below ten degrees Celsius, which maximizes its oxygen saturation, making it easier for whitebait to adapt to their new environment.
“For “Zaporizhstal” Steel Works, ecological issues have always been a top priority. We undertake large scale projects aimed at the preservation of the Dnieper river in the region and at the Steel Works itself. Currently, “Zaporizhstal” is finalizing the commissioning of new rolling equipment in cold rolling mill shop №1, which will completely halt the discharge of industrial water from this production unit into the Dnieper river,” said Igor Chernyak, the director of industrial and technology-related safety engineering at “Zaporizhstal” Steel Works.
“For the third consecutive year, we are conducting a fish stocking campaign in collaboration with “Zaporizhstal.” Our goals include: combating harmful water weeds, ensuring proper living conditions for native fish, and improving the quality of drinking water in the Dnieper,” stated Alexander Lemish, deputy chairman of the Zaporozhye regional organization of the “Fisherman and Hunters Association of Ukraine” (FHAU).
As part of the “Save the Dnieper together!” initiative, volunteers and socially active individuals are implementing valuable projects aimed at improving sanitary conditions and the cleanliness of the water area and banks of the Dnieper. Each year, the scale of the campaign and the number of participants continue to grow, with ecological events becoming increasingly diverse. Volunteers collect litter from the banks and water area of the Dnieper, while socially active individuals establish artificial fish breeding sites and carry out fish stocking.
The next stage of the “Save Dnieper together” campaign will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014, which includes an eco-quest for upper-form pupils from ten schools in Zaporozhye. An excursion to “Zaporizhstal” Steel Works will be arranged for the school children to observe the progress of ecological modernization at the Steel Works. Following this, an ecological quest featuring contests will take place on Khortitsa Island, with valuable prizes awarded to the winners. The campaign is fully financed by “Zaporizhstal” Steel Works.
Reference to photo gallery: https://zaporizhstal.com/en/press-center/photo-gallery/