Only three species of fish are left for industrial catch in the Azov Sea: goby, Azov anchovy and kilka. Earlier there were around 40 species of fish.

The press service of the Association of Fishermen of Ukraine reported, referring to the State Ecological Inspectorate, in the past ten years catch volume of grey mullet plunged by more than 99%, pike perch and Azov turbot catch decreased by 90%.

"Today the catch limits are provided for around 30 species of fish in the Azov Sea, but 95% of catch are goby, Azov anchovy and kilka. Other species are caught in small amounts," Head of the Association of Fishermen Oleksandr Chystiakov said.

He said the fish resources of the Azov Sea were destroyed during the past 20 years due to almost criminal consumer and predatory attitudes.

Some 16,738 tonnes of fish was caught in the Azov Sea in 2015.