“We have brought about 500 kg of fish worth more than CZK 40,000 which were bred in the tanks of the Chabařovice farm. This delivery comprises about 6,000 pieces of original fish species, especially roach, rudd, perch, common bream, white bream and chub. We have also added a few carps and pikes to make it more varied for the children,” says Jan Skalský, a spokesman for the North Bohemian Unit of the Czech Fishing Union. “Besides the actual stocking, the children received information about the most widespread fish in Czech rivers, their feeding habits and methods of fish rearing. Pikes seem to be most attractive for them; they are very lively and fast,” Jan Skalský adds.
“The initial objective of our project launched together with the Czech Fishing Union in 2010 is the revitalisation of the River Bílina. We organise regular fish stockings twice per year – in the spring and in the autumn. Together with the Most eco-centre, we endeavour to use this activity to boost the children’s interest in environmental issues,” says Pavel Sláma, Director of the EKO unit of Unipetrol.
The Most Environmental Centre joined the project in 2018, making the programme more varied for children through fish- and fishing-related competitions. “We have decided to complement the specialised presentation of fishers with proven activities: an entertaining quiz or fish-related puzzles. This year, we have come up with new puns focused on water issues. And to not only engage the children’s brain, but also muscles, we organised a race of boats,” elaborates Martina Černá, head of the Most Environmental Centre.
The River Bílina is 83.6 km long from its spring in the Loučny Highlands of the Ore Mountains up to Ústí and Labem where it empties into the River Elbe. It flows across the most industrial part of the Czech Republic. The water pureness has substantially improved over the past 30 years and this situation keeps improving.
Besides the River Bílina, Unipetrol is also engaged in care for the River Elbe. Fish are being planted in Neratovice close to the Spolana manufacturing plant together with the local fisher unit. Water pureness in the vicinity of the plant is also demonstrated by regular monitoring of the number and condition of fish as well as by repeatedly organised fishing events.
Unipetrol and Alka Wildlife are also involved in the monitoring and care for peregrine falcons nesting on the premises of the manufacturing plants in Litvínov, Kralupy and Neratovice. Two pairs of peregrine falcons nestled on the chimneys of the Litvínov site for the first time last year, which is a unique phenomenon in the country. Both couples threw a total of five chicks. A total of 23 peregrine falcon chicks have been born in Litvínov since 2011. Two pairs of this highly endangered species are again nestling in the Litvínov chemical plant this year.