Preliminary assessment of losses for fish farming of the Kharkiv region due to military actions

Purpose. Based on the author's materials, to carry out a preliminary assessment of ecological and economic losses caused to the fisheries complex of the Kharkiv region as a result of military actions. Methodology. Field studies on water bodies of the Kharkiv Region, which were affected by military actions, were conducted. Public data of the State Agency of Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine in the Kharkiv Region (2021–2023) were used. The following research methods were used during the assessment of the ecological consequences and economic losses caused to the aquatic biological resources of water bodies of the Kharkiv region: analytical – collection of information from official sources of enterprises and institutions carrying out economic activities, control and monitoring of water bodies; geoinformation – assessment of the actual hydrological regime of water bodies; identification of the spatial location, measurement of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of water areas formed after the reservoirs drying-up; hydrobiological – determination of fish species and other hydrobiont composition; statistical – for qualitative and quantitative assessment of commercial ichthyofauna and the economic damage inflicted to the fishery; forecast –assessment of the potential transformation of the species biodiversity of the ecosystem in time under different conditions of further development of the water sector of Ukraine. Findings. The impact of military actions on the conditions of existence of aquatic biological resources in the Oskil and Pechenegi reservoirs, on the functioning of special commercial fish farms, the production of aquaculture products, and the development of industrial and recreational fishing in the region has been preliminarily assessed. The calculation of economic losses for aquatic bioresources of water bodies of the Kharkiv region was carried out. Originality. For the first time, a preliminary assessment of losses for the fisheries industry (including commercial, recreational fishing, aquaculture) of the Kharkiv region due to military actions was carried out. Practical value. The obtained results have important and multifaceted practical value, in particular they can be used for: assessment of environmental damage caused to Ukraine as a result of military actions; rational management of water and fisheries management due to restoration of water ecosystems exposed to military impact; development of recommendations on restoration of ecosystem services; spread of social awareness about the post-war environmental challenges of the future; making decisions about investments in natural resources and the use of ecosystem services.