NEXT SALMON PROJECT SUPPORTED BY CCB IN 2007 - Restoration of wild Salmon habitats - preparation and awareness raising – IS CARRENTLY IMPLIMENTING BY NEMAN ENVIRONMENT GROUP



As the result of the Round Table the local secondary schools expressed a willingness to get involved in the Atlantic salmon conservation programme through the “River Watch” activities.


One of that local school is situated on the Villia bank in Bystritsa village. Some years ago pupils seen a big fish entered to the small Bystritsa river tolled teachers. “Dolphin, dolphin!”- children cried.


Nina Polutskaya has visited Bystritsa school in May of this year. They very interested to be involved in the programme of Atlantic salmon conservation. The workshop with teachers will be in September 2007.


It is very important thing to provide Belorussian authorities with knowledge of modern way of study Atlantic salmon and protect this kind of fish in the Vilia-Neris basin.


Under the current project it is planned to organise a joint Belarus-Lithuanian workshop 23-24 August 2007 to learn about the best practice in wild salmon protection in Lithuania and to raise awareness of the wild salmon protection among Belarus authorities. The workshop will include presentations by Lithuanian specialists and site visits to fish-ways on the Vilniyale river and salmon monitoring sites on the Zheimyana river. Dr Vytautas Kesminas, Head of Laboratory of Ecology of the Institute Ecology of Vilnius University agreed to host the workshop and to lead research presentations and site visits. The idea of the workshop gained support by Mr Vilmantas Graiciunas, Head of Nature Resources who expressed interest in the workshop itself and also in developing joint activities by Belarus and Lithuanian authorities to protect salmon species and habitats. Nina Palutskaya is currently putting together the workshop programme in communication with Dr Kesminas and Mr Graiciunas.