Ecobreves – EL SALVADOR: Fish instead of Rubbish

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SAN SALVADOR, Oct 20 2002 (IPS) - Some 200 divers pulled a ton of garbage from Ilopango Lake, one of the main sources of freshwater for the Salvadoran capital and the principal means of subsistence for some 600 fisherfolk. Plastic and aluminum containers and other rubbish were gathered by experts from a private diving school, which for the last eight years has helped with clean-up efforts in one of the country's most important water sources.

In addition to the clean-up, the minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Walter Jokisch, and representatives of the Fish Development center released 50,000 'alevín' fishes to boost the lake's population.