On Thursday, 8 October 2026, Amir Weissbrod, Ambassador of the State of Israel, visited the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters at the University of South Bohemia (USB). Accompanied by Member of Parliament Jan Bartošek, he learned about the faculty’s research facilities and activities. The delegation was accompanied throughout the visit by USB Rector Pavel Kozák.
The visit began at the Genetic Fisheries Centre (GFC), where the ambassador was welcomed by David Gela and Roman Franěk. He showed interest in fish farming, fish-rearing conditions, and methods of obtaining caviar without having to kill the fish. He was also interested in what motivates scientists and experts to pursue fisheries research.
The ambassador then visited the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Biochemistry (LECHB), where he viewed the analytical laboratory’s equipment and briefly spoke with its staff.
At the end of the visit, the ambassador met with faculty representatives in the meeting room. Tomáš Randák, Director of the Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology (RIFCH), introduced the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters USB and outlined its main research topics, with particular emphasis on water management. The meeting was also attended by Tomáš Policar, Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, and other faculty representatives.
One of the main topics of the subsequent discussion was the potential for reusing treated wastewater. The participants discussed not only the available technologies but also public perceptions of recycled and wastewater use. The discussion also covered findings from studies conducted at Čežarka Pond in Vodňany, which the faculty has long used for experiments focusing on this issue.
The discussion also addressed study opportunities and student exchanges between the Czech Republic and Israel. The ambassador spoke about opportunities for cooperation with Israeli institutions and invited faculty representatives to attend a specialist conference in Israel. He also accepted an invitation to visit the campus of the University of South Bohemia.
The visit concluded on a culinary note, with the ambassador sampling fish specialities prepared by the Processing Unit and Shop with Fish and Aquaculture Products (PUSFAP) at the FFPW USB.
The meeting highlighted several areas of shared interest that could provide a basis for future Czech-Israeli cooperation.
