The Fish at al-Faw Palace

From our Neighbors to the North

2011-12-31T23:59:00.003+03:00

-
In an otherwise unrelated article in The New Yorker [not free online], The Sanctuary: The world's oldest temple and the dawn of civilization, by Elif Batuman, in the magazine's Dept. of Archaeology, published in the special double issue 19-26 December 2011. Locus of article is the archaeological site Göbekli Tepe, located near the town of Şanlıurfa (formerly Urfa / Edessa), in southeastern Turkey near Syria.

[ . . . ]

After my last afternoon at Göbekli Tepe, I decided to devote the rest of the day to the other Urfa pilgrimage--the Abraham one. [ . . . ]

I reached a large park with manicured lawns, a rose garden, gushing fountains and shady tea gardens, and made my way to a rectangular stone-line pool crammed with fat gray carp, indicating the spot where Nimrod failed to burn up Abraham. It's said that anyone who eats one of these carp will go blind. All kinds of people--tough-looking men in black leather jackets, women in shapeless trenchcoats and head scarves, two girls dressed like Arabian princesses with gold coins on their foreheads--were buying fish food from the venders and hurling it into the pond by the fistful. The sacred carp accumulated in a great heap below the surface of the water, their gaping circular mouths angled upward.

[ . . . ]

Fish Haiku #15

Giant sacred Carp

Living in the lakes protect

Iraq's future hopes.

Uh-Oh!

2011-12-18T18:19:00.005+03:00

from an otherwise unrelated New York Times article about the discovery of classified documents in an Iraqi junkyard:

The 400 pages of interrogations, once closely guarded as secrets of war, were supposed to have been destroyed as the last American troops prepare to leave Iraq. Instead, they were discovered along with reams of other classified documents, including military maps showing helicopter routes and radar capabilities, by a reporter for The New York Times at a junkyard outside Baghdad. An attendant was burning them as fuel to cook a dinner of smoked carp.

Fish Haiku #15

Giant sacred Carp

Living in the lakes protect

Iraq's future hopes.

Farewell to the Americans!

2011-12-02T19:03:00.004+03:00

It had to happen. Yesterday, at a formal ceremony at Al-Faw Palace, the United States, represented by Vice President Joseph R. "Joe" Biden, Jr., turned over Camp Victory and the Victory Base Complex [VBC] to the Government of Iraq and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, effective today. This is one of the final steps in implementing the Bilateral Security Agreement between the two countries, reached in late 2008.

We, The Fish at Al-Faw Palace, must - and will - now survive by, with and through the Iraqi people.

Fish Haiku #15

Giant sacred carp

Living in the lakes protect

Iraq's future hopes

Hat tip to BLT and NPR.

Veterans Day: We Make the New York Times!

2011-11-12T02:17:00.003+03:00

Here's the caption of a pic we can't figure out how to post: Large carp live in the canals and lakes of the complex, and the fish were cause for many rumors among Iraqis. The Iraqi government harvested a number of the fish in the waters around the Al Faw Palace to use in restocking many of the rivers and lakes in Iraq in 2009. Note: This refers to Operation Carpe Diem. From Leaving Camp Victory in Baghdad.

Fish Haiku #26

2011-09-20T16:40:00.002+03:00

Fish Haiku #26

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell": Dead.

Soldiers leave Camp Victory . . .

Who will feed The Fish?

Our first link: from The Washington Post

2011-09-13T16:13:00.003+03:00

Camp Victory, the U.S. military headquarters in Iraq, getting ready to close, by Annie Gowen.

[ . . . ]

The base eventually came to have its own myths and urban legends, such as the often-told story about the outsize carp that still swim in the lake outside the al-Faw palace. These fish were said to have developed a taste for human flesh after they were fed Hussein’s victims, a tale that has never been substantiated. They will eat a baby duck whole, however; you can see it on their fan Web site.

[ . . . ]

Comment:

We thank Annie Gowen of The Washington Post for sharing us, The Fish at Al-Faw Palace, with all humanity, as part of our World Heritage. Well done!

PS. We welcome Washington Post readers. Please check back again in a month or so.

Fish Haiku #25

2011-09-13T04:12:00.000+03:00

Camp Victory shrinks

DFACs closing, one-by-one

Send more ducks our way!

No Fish in Tripoli, Libya!

2011-08-28T22:52:00.003+03:00

Money quote from The New York Times:

Gilded Traces of the Lives Qaddafis Led

[ . . . ]

Given Colonel Qaddafi's noted flamboyance, the residences of the House of Qaddafi were not quite as grand as people might have supposed.

They lacked the faux grandeur of Saddam Hussein's marbled palaces. There are no columns that bear the colonel's initials, or fists cast to resemble his hands or river-fed moats with voracious carp. [emphasis added]

We Make The New York Times

2011-08-09T01:23:00.008+03:00

In Iraq, Last Days at Camp Victory's Version of Five-Star Hotel.

[ . . . ]

Last week, while the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, was at the Joint Visitors Bureau [J.V.B.], the “Incoming!” alarm went off in the middle of the night as sensors tracked a rocket attack. Everyone jumped out of bed and into gym shorts and scrambled into cement bunkers until the all-clear sounded 15 minutes later.

To pass the quieter hours, soldiers assigned to the J.V.B. cast fishing lines into the lake that separates it from the looming palace that is headquarters for United States Forces-Iraq.

The lake is home to a vicious breed of carp grown giant by constant gorging on food refuse. The Camp Victory carp are so conditioned by human feeding that any shadow over the water causes them to roil the surface like piranhas in a James Bond movie. One soldier-fisherman last week had a biceps tattoo that read “Carpe Diem,” suggesting a pun about seizing the fish of the day.

And then there is golf.

A tee has been set on the back porch of the J.V.B., and soldiers use the lake as a driving range. At night, they like to crack open incandescent tubes meant for marking landing zones and roadways, coating golf balls in glowing orange and green chemicals. Like tracer bullets, the balls arc over and vanish into the lake, one more reason not to eat the carp. [emphasis added]

Comment: We appreciate the publicity in The New York Times. Thank you!

Sincerely,

The Fish at Al-Faw Palace
Camp Victory, Victory Base Complex [VBC]
Baghdad, Iraq

Fish Haiku #15

Giant sacred Carp

Living in the lakes protect

Iraq's future hopes.

Don't Forget the Fish!

2011-06-13T05:32:00.006+03:00

U.S. Troops in Iraq Leaving Saddam Palaces

[ . . . ]

A prime property at the Victory [Base] Complex is Al Faw palace, whose construction became Saddam's personal architectural hobby. He made more than 400 changes to the plans, according to the history of the complex.

"It has gorgeous ceilings and chandeliers, but we use it like a regular office building albeit with a lot more marble," [former U.S. military historian in Iraq Col. Les] Melnyk said.

Saddam's most dramatic – and, as it turns out, most damaging – alteration grew from paranoia. Flying over the building, he thought he saw a cross woven into the design and suspected the Yugoslav architects did it on purpose.

"He assumed, being the paranoid man ... that he was, that they were trying to insert a Christian symbol into his country. So he made the decision on the spot to double the size of the palace," Melnyk said.

The result of the hasty remake is that the back half of the palace is unstable, Melnyk said. Cracks are showing, chunks of the walls are falling off, and the palace may cease to be inhabitable. Meanwhile, the staircases are chipped and nicked after years of U.S. troops' weapons accidentally banging into them.

The troops do not mind climbing three floors just to use the massive bathroom – 12 sinks in one room alone. The bidets are used to store toilet paper.

The U.S. military has made many improvements to the palaces it has occupied – smoke detectors, new wiring, upgraded plumbing. Interiors have become cubicled office space and machines clean the floors at Al Faw.

The security agreement governing the withdrawal, however, does not require the U.S. to fix any damage it has caused to these buildings.

It does not help that the palaces were not always built very well. In the back of Al Faw, the paint looks haphazardly applied to the plaster ceiling moldings, the chandeliers in the hallway do not line up and the floor tiles are uneven.

Saddam was thinking "Versailles," but the materials he bought were more half-price sale at Home Depot. At Al Faw the banisters are gypsum, not marble. The Arabic script on the walls looks like gold but it is really brass.

Comment:

It's difficult to believe that this reporter toured Al-Faw Palace and didn't notice The Fish.

Let's hope that The Fish continue to entertain - and be fed by - distinguished visitors and, more importantly, their hard-working entourages.

Fish Haiku #15

Giant sacred carp

Living in the lakes protect

Iraq's future hopes.

Goslings at Lake around Al-Faw Palace: Yummy!

2011-04-12T04:21:00.001+03:00

We make the Austin [TX] Statesman

2011-02-24T19:36:00.001+03:00

Money quote from The Austin Statesman:

Camp Victory's Odd Allure

Former hunting resort is now U.S. military hub near Baghdad.

[ . . . ]

The nerve center of the base is the magnificent Al Faw Palace , a former vacation retreat of Saddam Hussein's next to another artificial lake. It's now home to American generals and officers running day to day operations in Iraq, but it still guards its share of mystery. "There's a lot of myths and urban legends that work their way into the story," said Lt. Col. Les' Melnyk, the Army's historian at Camp Victory, who gives regular tours of the palace.

Rumor has it that the place used to be a brothel or torture chamber, had a basement full of gold bars at the time of the invasion of Baghdad and that the fish in the lake eat ducklings (and perhaps small children).

[ . . . ]

Comment: Sorry, but we would never consider eating small children.

Iraq Victory Base VBC feeding rat to carp

2011-01-05T17:14:00.000+03:00

Yummy!

Al-Faw Fish

2010-08-13T17:23:00.000+03:00

Thanks for the Pizza. Yummy!

Mike Swick Visits The Fish!

2010-07-10T20:18:00.002+03:00

At 4:40:

Thank you, Mike Swick, for the goodies!

Ooops! Fishing in Iraq

2010-07-09T20:28:00.000+03:00

The Big Fish - from 2007

2010-07-08T20:51:00.000+03:00

We hope our buddy was returned to the lake.

Killer Mutated Carp

2010-07-07T21:04:00.000+03:00

Al Faw Palace - Large Carp

2010-07-06T21:08:00.000+03:00

Our Friends at Lost Lake

2010-07-05T22:02:00.001+03:00

Saddam Hussein's Fish

2010-06-21T20:55:00.000+03:00

Al-Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Iraq

2010-06-20T20:39:00.000+03:00

Fish Haiku #24

2010-05-16T22:17:00.000+03:00

Feeding the Fish now?

thefishatalfawpalace

@gmail.com
-

Swimming Fish on Nartube

2010-05-15T22:36:00.000+03:00

NarTube - Watch Video
[possible duplicate, but still good]

Crazy Carp at Al-Faw Palace

2010-05-05T20:24:00.000+03:00

Fish Haiku #23

2010-04-17T17:24:00.001+03:00

Send something homemade

To your buddies still downrange

Don't forget the Fish!

View from 2005

2010-03-06T18:42:00.002+03:00

Hat tip to Heather N Guy.

Photo title: Camp Victory, Iraq - August 2005

Fish feeding at Al Faw palace

2010-03-01T20:43:00.000+03:00

A quiet day at Al-Faw Palace

2010-02-20T18:37:00.002+03:00

Fish Haiku #22

2010-01-31T15:39:00.004+03:00

Southern ice and snow

Penguins, seals and whales eat krill

Lonesome without Fish

--Switzerland

AmericaBlog pet photos

2010-01-27T14:14:00.001+03:00

Yes, we Fish at Al-Faw Palace are in AmericaBlog's pet photos. We're in the lower right-hand part, fourth column from the right, seventh row from the bottom (counting on the right side). Our pic illustrates Fish Haiku #3.

We're quite certain we're the only Fish there. Definitely the only feral [for legal reasons relating to General Order No. 1, we refuse to accept classification as "wild"] fish considered, though not "kept" [for similar legal reasons], as pets by AmericaBlog readers. For additional explanation, please see Fish Haiku #5.

Thanks to AmericaBlog for the Free! publicity.

Sincerely,

The Fish at Al-Faw Palace
Camp Victory, Victory Base Complex [VBC]
Baghdad, Iraq

Fish Haiku #21

2010-01-23T20:19:00.001+03:00

Send us pics and vids

thefishatalfawpalace

@gmail.com

Photo tip to Aaron.

Fish Haiku #20

2010-01-22T11:15:00.000+03:00

After deployment

Re-learn Spanish, not so fun

Can't I feed the Fish?

Photo tip to LTC Bob.

Fish Haiku #19

2010-01-21T23:08:00.000+03:00

Send your pics and vids

thefishatalfawpalace

@gmail.com

Photo tip with Goldie here.

Fish at al Faw Palace

2010-01-20T23:35:00.000+03:00

Or, click on the title to see directly on YouTube: Fish at al Faw Palace.

Fish Feeding

2010-01-19T23:33:00.000+03:00

Saddam's Fish: another version

2010-01-18T23:44:00.000+03:00

Blogging Iraq: Missing Pisces

2010-01-17T23:52:00.000+03:00

Hat tip to Blogging Iraq.

Blogging Iraq: Baghdad Demon Fish

2010-01-16T23:50:00.000+03:00

Hat tip to Blogging Iraq.

Iraq fish from Reel Adventure Charters & Major Preble

2010-01-16T05:24:00.000+03:00

Front of al-faw palace

2010-01-15T05:19:00.000+03:00

Or, click here to watch it on YouTube: Front of al-faw palace.

Fish Haiku #18

2010-01-12T22:31:00.000+03:00

Manatee sous vide

Where most welcome, they hang out

Bask in warm water

Photo tip to The Washington Times and MyFoxTampaBay.

Fish Haiku #13

2010-01-02T20:26:00.000+03:00

Send us your pics, vids

thefishatalfawpalace

@gmail.com

Photo tip to Blogging-Iraq.

Fish Haiku #16A

2009-12-31T22:15:00.000+03:00

Starch, calories, fat

Otis Spunkmeyer Muffins

We Fish love all that!

Fish Haiku #17

2009-11-11T03:31:00.001+03:00

Jesuit retreat

Reflection, contemplation

Feeding the Fish: Peace.

Fish Haiku #16

2009-11-08T05:37:00.000+03:00

Otis Spunkmeyer

Muffins: Starch, calories, fat

Feed them to the Fish!

Iraqi Carp

2009-11-04T21:36:00.000+03:00

For your unit's event

2009-11-01T03:30:00.000+03:00

We Fish at al-Faw Palace welcome your unit's interest in our blog.

For a signature, just ask anyone in MNF-I CJ3 RTT, whose motto is Carpe Diem, to write "Carpe Diem" on your paper.

Here are the specific instructions: Find, say, some Otis Spunkmeyer muffins [laden with fat, starch and calories] from any Any Soldier table anywhere; nobody is eating them, so you take a few, unwrap them and feed them to the Fish!

If store-bought muffins are unavailable, just feed us anything else; of course we'll like it. Thank you very much. That is all.

Photo tip to Kris.

The Fish at Al-Faw Palace salute the Baghdad Anglers Club

2009-10-25T16:47:00.000+03:00

We Fish at Al-Faw Palace thank the Baghdad Anglers Club and its members for contributing to the preservation of our way of life, and the future of Iraq.

"Catch and Release" ensures not only our continued survival - and that of Iraq - but also the continued availability of sport fishing as a form of recreation for our deployed servicemembers - and, later, we hope, tourists, including returning veterans.

So, if we get caught - and are returned to the lake - it's all in good fun, right?

Fish Haiku #15

2009-10-22T22:22:00.000+03:00

Giant sacred Carp

Living in the lakes protect

Iraq's future hopes

Fish Haiku #14

2009-10-21T22:21:00.000+03:00

Pita: Limit 4

-- Sign at Pegasus DFAC

==> Z Lake has Fish too!

Note: Above YouTube video, "the killer fish in iraq," seems to have been taken at Camp Liberty near Pegasus DFAC, located on Z Lake:

Fish Haiku #13

2009-10-11T02:32:00.000+03:00

Send us your pics, vids

thefishatalfawpalace

@gmail.com

Fish Haiku #12

2009-09-05T22:12:00.000+03:00

Beware mutant carp

Boiling water churning pink

As they eat their own.

Photo tip to Kris

Fish Haiku #11

2009-08-22T22:10:00.000+03:00

Ramadan Kareem

Reflection, Devotion, Faith

All day the Fish dine.

We're in a deployment video

2009-08-12T20:34:00.001+03:00

[start @0:33]

Quite a good job, actually. And, thanks for the food!

How the Fish at Al Faw Figure into Iraq's Economic Recovery...

2009-08-12T17:28:00.000+03:00

UNCLASSIFIED

At today's high-level strategy meeting, with all the top brass and many interagency leaders... I gave the following update on how USAID's agribusiness program Inma ("growth" in Arabic) contributes to Iraq's growing stability and security. In short, building Iraqi agricultural capacity helps Iraq be less dependent on imports and less vulnerable to droughts and other environmental shocks. Here's part of the brief:

"A NYT article recently featured the resurgence of the Iraqi fish industry, crediting Inma for its support. Aquaculture is re-emerging slowly as a major food source in Iraq, and the traditional open-flame roasting of fish is making a comeback in the newly re-opened Masquf restaurants in the riverside park along Abu Nuwas. Despite inexpensive imported frozen product, there remains devotion among Iraqis for fresh, locally produced fish. Almost all the fish roasted on Abu Nuwas now — mostly common carp and its varietal cousins — are raised on farms scattered along the Euphrates River south of Baghdad.

"In Babil province, increased stability following the surge allowed Inma to assist the two biggest Iraqi fish hatcheries. Extensive canals in Babil Governorate and neighboring areas provide water for over 1,000 hectares of ponds devoted to production of common carp. Rather than promote an increase in the number of ponds, and hence water use, Inma trains farmers to more efficiently use their existing ponds and reduce losses of live fish as they are transported to market. Annual fish production in Babil increased from a negligible amount in 2007 to 65,000 MT in April 2009. In May 2009, Inma flew 12,400 carp fingerlings from Hungary to cross-breed a hardier, fleshier fish which will be ready for production in May 2010. Gross sales by Inma-assisted fish farms will grow by $30 million over the next two years."

The Commanding General of MNF-I recommended that we look into using the monstrously huge Fish at Al Faw (the actual fish, not this website) to help strengthen Iraqi fish farms... and the Chief of Staff MNF-I explained that we're already helping to do that under some program. Thought you'd all want to know!

UNCLASSIFIED

Fish Haiku #2

2009-08-12T17:25:00.000+03:00

#2

gaping mouth must feed,
fragile gosling disappears--
a fish at al faw

--robert m. birkenes

A Fish from the next generation

2009-08-12T07:50:00.000+03:00

<://////><

Fish Haiku #10

2009-08-12T03:39:00.000+03:00

MEK at Camp Ashraf

Like the Fish, still there, so far . . .

. . . Saddam's legacies . . .

Photo tip to SSG Brad Gerten

The Fish: peaceful view

2009-08-12T00:47:00.000+03:00

Photo tip to SSG Brad Gerten.

Fish Haiku #9

2009-08-12T00:40:00.000+03:00

Clock Tower tells time

A Mall at FOB Union III

Who will feed the Fish?

Fish Haiku #8

2009-08-12T00:37:00.001+03:00

Geese in a circle:

Convoy OPS - Stare down the Fish!

Protect your babies!

Photo tip to LTC Bob.

Fish Haiku #7

2009-08-12T00:35:00.000+03:00

Nerfs in JIATF

flash firefight frenzy erupts

just like Fish feeding

Fish Haiku #6

2009-07-09T22:41:00.000+03:00

Blazing summer sun

The sand, the wind, wilted trees

The Fish dine again.

--Jim

Fish Haiku #5

2009-07-08T22:37:00.000+03:00

Neither "wild" nor "pets"

General Order Number 1

Feeding Fish OK

Fish Haiku #2A

2009-06-12T23:48:00.001+03:00

Quiet on the lake

Fragile gosling disappears . . .

A Fish at Al-Faw

Vicious Fish

2009-05-11T14:42:00.001+03:00

A Fish Story: Wild Kingdom

2009-04-27T10:47:00.000+03:00

First, a video:

And now, from a friend of the geese:

One of the cool things about the landscape here in Iraq is that the palaces have moats. No shit, moats. I learned on the Victory Over America Palace tour [elsewhere on Victory Base Complex] that the Muslim faith (as practiced here in Iraq) believes that there is no sin committed over water, which is why many of the party houses and palaces have moats. I think we Christians need more rules like this one! Anywho, one of the cool benefits of a moat is getting to see the birds and fish as you walk to work. The moat provides an entire ecosystem for wild life.

When we arrived at Al-Faw Palace in November, there was a brand new clutch of goslings. Over the past 4 months, I have been watching these birds mature. They've grown, turned colors, and are now adult members of their flock. Watching the birds is one of many small ways to keep my mind active and engaged. So, a few days ago, I'm walking with my friends across the bridge to the palace and I see this new formation of goslings. I start to gush, "Look Andrew, a little formation of 7 goslings. Aren't they cute? Quick take a picture. They are so fuzzy and yellow and cute. Hurry Andrew, take a picture!" Andrew of course is hopping up and down on one leg trying to pull his camera from his shin pocket on his cammies. Then I notice that the mama geese are headed toward the bank and the little formation of goslings are swimming directly for the carp feeding area.

Be advised that the carp feeding area is a place closest to the palace where soldiers stop and throw food over the fence to feed the fish. These fish are crazy. They can see you coming and will start to swarm under you. Then as soon as you start to throw chow - it doesn't matter what sort of chow (except they won't eat lettuce, I'm told) - they go crazy and splash and compete for food.

The swimming goslings are on a collision course with the schooling carp. I start to say, "Turn around little goslings, the fish are over there. Stop little geese, go where your mamas are." They of course don't listen to me. They paddle closer and closer to the school of carp. Then one of the carp on the edge of the schooling area swims over and nudges the feet of one of the goslings. My mind is racing. Turn around little geese, paddle faster. As if we had ESP, the little formation changes direction and starts to paddle toward the bank...but then out of the deep a GIANT carp comes up and jumps on top of the goslings and eats one whole. Now there are 6 little goslings swimming their asses off. If you look closely at the photo to the right, you can see the shadows of the goose-eating fish following them as they try to flee. I actually squealed when I saw the little goose in the mouth of a huge carp. I was mortified. My mind stands still and races at the same time. I do a little mental rewind, insert the theme music from jaws, and then imagine the voice of Marlin Perkins from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom narrating the entire attack. OBTW, I loved that show when I was a little girl. It's where I learned that I loved elephants and lions. My affinity for orcas and blue whales came later. Anyway, the fish attack was the most violent thing I've ever seen in nature. I mean actually seen with my own eyes. Sure I've seen dog fights, and road kill, but to see a little gosling get eaten alive by a huge carp was crazy.

The next thing I remember is continuing to say, "Holy shit, did you see that. That shit was like Moby Dick or something." At the same time, the three gentlemen I am with are laughing and carrying on. It is as if my male escorts are completely at peace with the food chain. I, too, am a carnivore, but I like to suspend my knowledge of how meat is obtained. I'm happy to be evolved enough to pick it up at the DFAC or commissary.

I hear this story recounted no less than 10 times to whoever would listen. It is so real and violent and beautiful and amazing. On some level this experience reminds us that life is fragile, precious, and fleeting. To make a sad story sadder...I haven't seen the other 6 goslings since that day. I think they too became fish food. Hopefully, the next clutch is smarter...but they are geese.

From the west of Al-Faw Palace

2009-04-25T19:10:00.000+03:00

from Nancy in Iraq

2009-04-21T05:18:00.000+03:00

Thanks to Nancy in Iraq.

fish at al faw, haiku #4

2009-04-19T17:15:00.000+03:00

quiet bathroom men--
cleaning, replacing, fixing.
do they see the fish?

fish at al faw, haiku #1

2009-04-19T17:12:00.000+03:00

the fish at Al Faw
no strangers to eating flesh
play bagel hockey

Watching fish at Al Faw

2009-04-15T18:45:00.000+03:00

Saddam's Fish

2009-04-15T18:21:00.000+03:00

Saddam's Fish: More

2009-04-12T18:24:00.000+03:00

Click here to view YouTube video

Feeding Fish in Iraq!

2009-04-10T18:28:00.000+03:00

Fish Feeding Frenzy in Baghdad, Iraq

2009-04-09T18:28:00.000+03:00

Iraqi fish

2009-04-07T18:35:00.000+03:00

Fish Haiku #3

2009-04-06T19:05:00.000+03:00

The Fish at Al-Faw

Smiles and enthusiasm

Just like the Muppets

Al Faw Palace - Balcony

2009-04-06T18:35:00.000+03:00

Funky Fish in Pond

2009-04-03T03:34:00.000+03:00

Terrence Warren Feeding the Fish

2009-04-03T03:26:00.000+03:00

Killer mutated carp

2009-04-02T03:18:00.000+03:00

Stuck fish

2009-04-02T03:09:00.000+03:00

Those Annoying Boaters

2009-03-29T19:15:00.000+03:00

Recently there has been a lot of boating on our once-peaceful lake.This is quite annoying since it brings back bad memories of Operation CARPE DIEM. Many of us lost friends and family to that fishing expedition, so whenever we hear a boat on the lake we are afraid it is another trap.

Water-skiing Peeps are especially frustrating, since they are quite tasty but are moving too fast behind that damn boat for us to catch them.

Carp out.

Carp

2009-03-20T03:15:00.000+03:00

Best about 30 seconds in . . .

2009-02-25T22:14:00.000+03:00

2009-02-24T22:10:00.000+03:00

Photo tip to James Aalan Bernsen.

2009-02-23T21:44:00.000+03:00

Operation CARPE DIEM

2009-01-17T03:13:00.003+03:00

from the Victory Times, telling the Multi-National Corps - Iraq story, Vol. II, Issue 121. [no longer on the web]

Palace fish make splash in Iraqi economy

Experts use rare species to jump-start industry/ limits placed on Soldiers' fishing, feeding activities

by SPC. Christopher M. Gaylord, 13th Public Affairs Detachment

In the 1990s, Saddam Hussein drained Marsh Arab wetlands in southern Iraq to punish locals who had provided refuge to rebels. The results devastated entire villages whose economies relied mainly on the fishing industry.

Years later, water is flowing back to the area, but the fish population is still depleted.

Multi-National Corps-Iraq's agricultural team is collaborating with the Iraqi government in an effort to revitalize the fishing industry in areas where the fish population was decimated.

For the next month, the MNC-I C9 agricultural team will go fishing in Victory Base Complex's lakes, including the moat that surrounds Al Faw Palace, the headquarters for MNC-I and Multi-National Forces-Iraq.

Their catch--three rare species of male and female fish--will be transported to the state fish hatchery in Sewara, in Wasit Province, 65 kilometers south of Baghdad.

"The biologists that looked at the fish at Al Faw Palace said that if they could capture a number of these fish, it would revolutionize the fishing industry in Iraq, so they're very excited about it," said Col. Lyle Jackson, veterinary officer, C9 agriculture, MNC-I. "These fish are extremely valuable."

The fish to be harvested are of the Bunni, Shabout and Kattan species, three of the types most desired by Iraqis.

"The whole population [of Iraq] favors these types of fish," said Dr. Mewafak Raffo, veterinary poultry advisor, C9, MNC-I.

Raffo said the genetics of the fish on Victory Base Complex are ideally suited for the project. Similar specimens can't easily be found anywhere else in the world, he said: The palace fish were carefully screened, and no one has touched, abused or attempted to catch them illegally.

The goal is to capture about 150 female fish and 300 male fish from each species by the end of January.

The Iraqi biologists o the project have a process that will help the fish reproduce at a high rate, ensuring the most offspring and bang for the buck. "We get a very high percentage of fertile eggs and a very large hatch," Jackson said.

To aid the project, Jackson has asked that VBC personnel feed the fish only during certain hours and only from the shoreline outside Al Faw Palace's gates. Personnel are asked not to fish from the palace bridge, which had been a popular feeding spot.

"We're just asking people to feed them at a site where we can capture them easier," Jackson said. Closer to the palace bridge, "the water is very deep over there, and there's no bank to work from. You'd have to use boats," he said.

On a base where fishing is a common leisure activity, Jackson also has asked that personnel cease fishing with nets until the harvesting is completed.

The project is a possible boon to the marshes, an area of Iraq that has been financially and environmentally staggered for more than a generation.

"These fingerlines we produce from this project will be used to restock the marshes in the south that have been devastated by drought and by the previous government," Jackson said. "They're depleted and so those people can't make a living fishing anymore."

Jackson, Raffo and the rest of the agricultural team are confident the project's success will be felt nationwide.

"We can help the whold Iraqi economy with these fish," Jackson said.

MNC-I News Release: MNC-I agricultural team working promising fish harvesting project.

Another MNC-I News Release: Fishing Industry to be Revitalized with Species from Saddam's Palace Waters.

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2001-02-11T17:47:00.000+03:00

Dan Snyder

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