The issue of the efficiency of the use of water objects in the oblast was considered today at an operational meeting at the Volyn Oblast State Administration. Reports were delivered by Svitlana Bohuta — deputy head of the oblast land resources administration, and Volodymyr Litvinchuk — head of the Main Administration of Agriculture and Food, the oblast state administration press service reported. The oblast has 222 natural water bodies (lakes) with a total area of 12.49 thousand hectares. More than 580 ponds and reservoirs have been built for the needs of industry, agriculture and fish farming. For the purpose of rational use, 45 lakes and 249 ponds have been leased to legal entities and individuals for fish breeding. In 2003, agreements were concluded and 45 lakes and 184 artificial water bodies were used, which constitutes 20 and 31 percent respectively. Self-government bodies of Kovel, Lyuboml, and Turiisk raions performed relatively better in leasing water bodies. At the same time, out of the available 44, only 5 ponds were leased in Kamin-Kashyrskyi, out of 77 — 14 in Manevychi, out of 85 — 16 in Lokachi, out of 35 — 5 in Shatsk raions. The gross fish catch in the oblast as a whole amounted to 359.0 tonnes, which is 71.9 tonnes more than in the corresponding period last year. According to the speakers, there is a trend of increasing fish production, however the growth rates could be higher if all "lovers of underground fishing" were legalized. According to the developed Program for the Development of Fisheries of Volyn Oblast for 2001-2010, the production of fish planting material in the oblast is envisaged in the amount of 7 million units per year.