Starting with April 29 to May 1 a Cup of Russia on Fishing with a float rod was held at Rostov NPP nuclear plant cooling pond. About 70 sportsmen – masters of sports of international ranks, World and Europe Champions took part in the competition. 8 districts of Russia were represented by 15 teams (Moscow, Leningrad, Volgograd, Voronezh, Smolensk, Rostov regions, Krasnodar territory and the Republic of Tatarstan). 60 fishermen from the number of the 30-kilometer area inhabitants were competing in the category of amateurs.

Russian Association of Public Units Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz (RORS) with the support of Rosatom State Corporation, Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC, Rostov NPP, Federation of Sports and Recreational Fisheries of Rostov region were the competition organizers.

The sportsmen contests were organized in individual and team competitions. Within the two days the participants of the Cup contest and the amateurs caught about two tones of fish. According to Competition Chief Judge Yury Bukreyev, sportsmen-fishermen had not seen such a rich take for a long tome:

“The basin is a very good one, we and the sportsmen liked it: the amount of fish does not allow sit and think – we have to work. I calculated the catch of the first day – 518 kg 728 grams for a day. Don land appeared to be very hospitable, and both sportsmen and the judges will remember the Cup of Russia for a long time”.

Deputy Head of Fishing and Hunting of Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz Association and Head of Sport Fishery Department Anatoly Kozyr noted that this was not the first fishing at the nuclear plant cooling pond, and the collaboration with Rosatom State Corporation in that branch was a very effective one.

In the course of the competition, the employees of environmental protection department of Rostov NPP and the laboratory of outer radiation control were carrying out water withdrawals and its exploration. The mobile laboratory took stand directly on the bank of the pond. After the finish and the fish control weighing everyone willing could personally make sure that it was absolutely safe and suitable for eating.

“It is a common knowledge that the attitude to nuclear power is a bit alert. And in the society there is an opinion that a nuclear plant is an object able to affect the environment. Inviting people to this event, we meant to show everybody that a nuclear plant was a safe and ecologically pure production. Today I myself was fishing – caught a pike-perch and I am going to take it home. Together with my family I will fry it ant eat with a great pleasure”.

According to the results of two competition days, the team of Leningrad region took the first prize, the second place was taken by the sportsmen from Krasnodar district, the Team “Moscow-1” showed the third result.