Belarus and Russia plan to conduct monitoring work on ichthyological studies on the Dnieper River. This was discussed during the Russian-Belarusian meeting on fisheries, study, protection, and rational use of aquatic biological resources in transboundary water bodies, reported BELTA in the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The sides discussed the cooperation program for 2027 in the field of fisheries. It is planned to include monitoring work on ichthyological studies on the Dnieper River and continuation of the exchange of genetic material to preserve the diversity of aquaculture objects.

The Belarusian delegation was headed by Natalia Sonich, head of the Main Department for Intensification of Livestock and Fisheries Activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, while the Russian delegation was led by Alexander Khatusov, head of the Moscow-Oka Territorial Administration of the Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo). "Belarus's adopted law 'On Aquaculture (Fish Farming)' will contribute to creating favorable conditions for aquaculture, increasing the volume of aquaculture production, and, above all, expanding the possibilities for producing other aquaculture objects besides fish," noted Natalia Sonich.

The sides also exchanged information on changes in the structure of state administration and environmental legislation. The results of the implementation of interaction plans between the territorial subdivisions of the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Animal and Plant World and the Moscow-Oka and North-Western territorial administrations of Rosrybolovstvo for 2025-2027 were analyzed. The practice of state control for eight months of 2026 was reviewed, including cases of bringing citizens to liability for violations of fishing rules in the territory of the neighboring country and facts of mass fish mortality on transboundary objects. Furthermore, the outcomes of fish stocking and reclamation programs for transboundary water bodies, carried out on the recommendations of Russian and Belarusian research institutes, were summed up. As a result of the meeting, the sides signed a protocol.