Five hundred kilograms of fish were returned to the Elbe at the beginning of October. Neratovice-based Spolana organises the traditional autumn event in collaboration with local anglers and the Ecological Centre in Most as part of the Department of the Environment at the Brown Coal Research Institute (VUHU a. s.). Nearly 60 pupils from the third and fifth grades of the primary school in Kostelec nad Labem participated in the event this year. The fish-releasing event takes place twice a year and is always attended by children from local primary schools. Spolana Neratovice has been organising this initiative in support of the environment since 2013. Almost eleven tonnes of original fish species have been released into the Elbe during this time.
“For us, stocking the Elbe with fish is a beautiful opportunity to bring nature closer to children from the neighbouring municipalities in an entertaining and meaningful way. This year, we welcomed children from the primary school in Kostelec nad Labem, who really enjoyed the day spent at the river – they carried fish in landing nets to the water, helped release them, competed in identifying fish species, and had a barbecue at the end. Such experiences are both entertaining and important – the children learn about the principles in nature and why it matters to protect it,” says Piotr Tomiło, Executive Director at Spolana, adding: “We have been collaborating with local communities and municipalities on a long-term basis because environmental care starts where people live. We are delighted that we can be a part of activities with a purpose that give children joy, experiences and guide them to a responsible relationship with nature.”
The children participated in a varied side programme that combined fun and learning. Following a gripping narrative of anglers about the life of fish in Czech rivers, pupils could take a closer look at different fish species. Then, they released common carp, perch, roach, and common tench into the Elbe under the anglers’ supervision. Once released, the fish naturally travels down the stream and can even migrate to more distant areas thanks to weir chambers. Thus, anglers support both fish population growth, diversity of species, and the health of the river ecosystem.
In addition to stocking the river with fish, the children took part in a varied side programme prepared by the Ecological Centre in Most as part of the Department of the Environment at the Brown Coal Research Institute (VUHU a. s.). “We wanted to inform children about the importance of water for life on Earth and show them the fish species that can be found in Czech rivers. Children could test their knowledge about the water ecosystem in games, quizzes, and puzzles,” said Lucie Tichá, Head of the Department of the Environment, VUHU a.s. The programme included popular activities, such as barbecuing and casting the fishing line, as well as other activities, which brought the children fun and new insights into nature and environmental protection.
Neratovice-based Spolana has long been engaged in environmental protection and development, regularly stocking the Elbe with fish and participating in other ecological activities. For instance, Spolana actively supports the nesting of the critically endangered peregrine falcons that periodically appear on a chimney stack within the production site. The company has also been engaged in beekeeping since 2018. The hives are located in the unused part of the site close to the former chocolate and saccharine production unit.
SPOLANA s.r.o. is one of the leading chemical companies in the Czech Republic, producing sulphuric acid. The company employs more than 200 people. Spolana has been owned by the ORLEN Unipetrol group since 2016. ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and the production, distribution and sale of fuels and petrochemical products - mainly plastics and fertilizers. In all these areas, it is a major player on the Czech and Central European markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice and research centres in Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes a network of ORLEN petrol stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs almost 5,000 people. In addition to business development, ORLEN Unipetrol prides itself on being a socially responsible company. Therefore, it pays equal attention to initiatives aimed at cultivating and supporting sustainable development, education, local communities and the environment. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Contact: Pavel Kaidl, spokesperson, phone: +420 225 001 407, +420 736 502 520, e-mail: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz