The River Bílina has again witnessed the traditional autumn fish-stocking event organised and funded by the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation together with the Czech Anglers’ Union. Supervised by experts, young anglers from the third grade of the Eleventh Primary School in Most have released fish into the river on their own. The fish-stocking event takes place twice per year – in spring and in autumn. It is regularly attended by children from primary schools in Most, who can thus learn about life in the Czech rivers. This autumn, the children and anglers released more than 750 kg of fish. In total, they have released nearly 13 tonnes since 2010.
Stocking the River Bílina with fish is a popular event for local schoolchildren, who look forward to it every year. “Twenty-two excited children from the Eleventh Primary School in Most joined the autumn release. Each of them could release their own fish, which was an unforgettable experience. With a smile on their face, they watched the fish setting out for their journey through the river, disappearing under the surface and exploring their new home,” Lucie Pražáková, director of the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation, comments on the traditional event. The children are happy to return to the River Bílina each year, as the event is not only about the actual fish release, but they also get an opportunity to be closer to life in the river, learn something new and enjoy nature, games, and moments together.
Children and anglers released 755 kg of fish, including species like carp, pike, tench, roach, and perch. “The children were happy to release their own fish. This year, we stocked the river with a diverse range of species, including white fish such as roach, rudd, bream, and white bream, as well as attractive species like tench, pike, beautiful perch, and carp. A small eel was an attraction, as many children saw this species for the first time. For us anglers, it is a pleasure to see the children’s interest, and that they enjoy it. We believe they will treat the Bílina as it deserves, also because it is a home, namely to ‘their’ fish,” adds Jan Skalský, a spokesperson for the North Bohemian Unit of the Czech Anglers’ Union.
The event included a side programme prepared by the Ecological Centre in Most, which is part of the Department of the Environment at the Brown Coal Research Institute (VUHU a. s.). The children completed crossword puzzles, quizzes, and rebuses focused on the environment. The aim was to explain the significance of water for life on Earth and show them the fish species in Czech rivers.
Through this traditional event, the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation helps increase the fish population in the River Bílina and raise awareness about nature conservation among primary school children. The Foundation has invested more than CZK 1 million in stocking the River Bílina with fish.
The other environmental initiatives of the Foundation include the support of peregrine falcon nesting. Peregrine falcons have so far raised 70 chicks at ORLEN Unipetrol sites. The Foundation also supports the development of the largest bird park at Střimická výsypka near the Litvínov Refinery. This unique project contributes to biodiversity renewal in the region. It provides a shelter to dozens of bird species, including the endangered species.
About the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation
The ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation launched its activities in 2017. Its primary mission is to support education and popularise science, primarily natural sciences and technical disciplines, as well as corporate social responsibility, emphasising local communities and the environment. The Foundation has long been engaged in supporting schools, teachers, and students with grant programmes. The educational project, ‚Plastík a jeho kouzelný kufřík‘, provides schoolchildren from the first to the fifth grade with an excursion into the world of chemistry through entertaining experiments. Educational support and the associated Foundation’s activities gave rise to many educational materials and outputs in the form of tutorials available at www.nouonline.cz. Beginning in 2024, the Foundation is also committed to corporate social responsibility related to the environment, support of local communities, and volunteering. Such activities include championing volunteer and community projects, fundraising, fish releases into rivers, nesting of endangered peregrine falcons, and beekeeping. The Foundation cooperates with many non-profit organisations on a long-term basis but also reacts to current events in society and emergencies. More information about the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation’s mission and other activities is available at www.nadaceorlenunipetrol.cz.
Contact details:
Lucie Pražáková, director of the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation
E-mail: nadace@orlenunipetrol.cz
Telephone: +420 736 506 939