FIELD STUDIES FIND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS AND ALARMING DECLINE IN FISH SPECIES IN THE DNIESTER RIVER

Two new reports reviewing the environmental condition of the Dniester River indicate water quality problems in the Lower Dniester and its estuary as well as alarming declines in fish populations. The objectives of the research were to collect information on water quality and bottom sediments, as well the state of the fish populations in the Dniester. At the same time, the joint work served to improve of transboundary cooperation between the two countries.

The joint Moldovan-Ukrainian hydrochemical expedition along the Dniester was conducted for the first time in 14 years during the summer of 2011. The results indicate water quality problems in the lower course of the Dniester and its estuary, while the quality can be defined as “very good” or “good” only along the first 150 kilometres from the source. This has serious consequences for water ecosystems and water use, in particular for quality of drinking water in the lower part of the basin including for the city of Odessa and its population of more than 1 million.

Similarly, joint field research of fish fauna in the Lower Dniester was conducted in May‑October 2011, for the first time since 1992. Alarmingly, the number of fish species observed had declined by 50% in the last 10 years. The report shows that there has been a degradation of the ecosystem, and a need for joint conservation measures as well as to revise and expand national lists of rare and endangered fish species.

The reports from the two expeditions provide a range of recommendations, including pointing out the need for a strengthened water and environment cooperation between the two countries. Full Russian-language versions of the reports are available on http://dniester-basin.org/ru/materials/dnestr3/, its summaries in English are placed on http://dniester-basin.org/materials/dnestr3/.