Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR” (hereinafter - BIOR) within LIFE Programme Project “Research of marine habitats in EEZ and determination of the necessary conservation status in Latvia” Project No. LIFE19 NAT/LV/000973 LIFE REEF, started to mark round gobies and asks for public involvement to get back the signs.

The marking of round gobies will be carried out during the fishing seasons on 2022 and 2023 (April-June). A total of 8,000 fish (4,000 fish in the Gulf of Riga and 4,000 fish in the open part of the Baltic Sea) are planned to be marked on the coast of Latvia, using the T-bar marks with the inscription BIOR RIGA and the four-digit code. The study is scheduled to be carried out by 31 January 2025.

Latvian fishermen are invited to participate in ensuring the harvesting of biological material of marked round gobies and in recording cases of catchment for the necessity of a scientific study (hereinafter - Service), registering the following information:

  1. The code of the mark.
  2. The length of the fish from the muzzle to the end of the tail fin, cm.
  3. Geographical coordinates of the catching site.
  4. Catch time (year, month, date).
  5. Fishing gear.
  6. Duration of fishing (hours).
  7. A photograph of the fish caught in such a way that the number of the mark or the freezing and storage of the fish caught in a whole (non-gutted) form for later transfer to the scientists of the BIOR. Information on the length of the fish (paragraph 2) shall not be required when storing the fish in a healthy way.

Report the catch cases to the Maritime Division of the BIOR Department for Fish Resources Research by phone: 371 20239304 or e-mail: ivars.putnis@bior.lv.

On 31 May 2022, the Institute conducted a price survey entitled “Collection of marked round gobies and recording of catching cases for the purpose of a scientific study” involving 4 (four) fishermen. In view of the prices submitted by fishermen in the price survey, BIOR established an average price. The fee for recording 1 (one) catch of a highlighted fish for the purpose of a scientific study, taking into account the calculated average price, shall be as follows:

Information, together with the fish photograph, EUR 7 + VAT;

Information, together with freezing and storage of fish, EUR 9,75 + VAT.

A fisherman may submit information on several fish at the same time.

BIOR shall transfer the fee of Service to the bank account indicated on the fisherman's account within 20 (twenty) working days of the adoption, the passing act and the receipt of the Services invoice.

The total cost of the Service shall not exceed EUR 6 611,57 without VAT (EUR 8000,00 with VAT).

In the case of questions, contact the Maritime Division of the BIOR Department for Fish Resources Research by phone: 371 20239304 or e-mail: ivars.putnis@bior.lv.