Fishermen participate in workshop on the eradication of Catfish

Fishermen participate in workshop on the eradication of Catfish
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 06/15/2011

The Ministry of Environment urged dozens of fishermen from the National District, the Santo Domingo province and surrounding areas, to contribute to the eradication of the catfish, an invasive species that has been detected in rivers and lakes within the Ozama Wetlands National Park.

“The majority of fishermen were located around the Ozama and Isabela rivers to exchange experiences and information on the catfish (Clarias batrachus) in the area,” said Brigido Hierro, technician from the Ministry of Environment.

Fishermen participated in a workshop led by a team of biologists and specialists form the Vice ministry of Protected Areas and Biodiversity, headed by Brigido Hierro Garcia and Mercedes Peguero, which was held on the Isla de la Esperanza (Island of Hope), in the Las Malvinas Ecological Park, who received training on the control and eradication of the catfish, an aggressive invasive species that is affecting native fishes.

The activity is part of a campaign by the Ministry of Environment called “Catfish: an aquatic invasive species ¡consume it and control it!” whose main objective is the massive fishing of this fish, which was introduced illegally in the water areas of the capital and in parts of the eastern region.

“The majority of fishermen were located around the Ozama and Isabela rivers to exchange experiences and information on the catfish (Clarias batrachus) in the area,” said Brigido Hierro, technician from the Ministry of Environment.

He noted that the workshop with fishermen was held within the framework of the Program for the Management and Control of Exotic Invasive Species, being offered by the Ministry of Environment nationwide.

In turn, Mercedes Peguero said that another objective of the campaign is to gather and share information with the fishermen in the area on the occurrence, impact on other species, and management for the control of this exotic invasive species.

With these meetings, the Ministry of Environment expects fishermen in the area to become more aware on the management and control of this species and to join activities scheduled for such purposes.