The purpose of the project is investigating the effect of heavy metals on physiology of fish and the better understanding of the cellular mechanisms that protect cells from damage. The research contributes to better environmental management in the future. To reach the project goal, the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offered cooperation possibilities to the Romanian university BUSAV at the facilities of the Department in Szeged. The project consisted of studying the effect of Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ on fish under laboratory circumstances and on fish originated from polluted water; organization of seminars on the above mentioned issues; topics emphasizing their role in the aquatic bio monitoring in Hungary and Romania; delivery of an Environmental Biochemistry course of 10-12 hours in Timisoara.The general objective of the project is increasing the quality of the environment by researching the effect of heavy metals on physiology of fish.Target groups: students of Hungarian and Romanian universities, operatives of hydrological and environmental organizations.The main specific activities of the project are: enzyme analysis of blood resides of fish reflecting damage of different times; analytical research and investigations, focused on heavy metal pollution and its effect on plants; demonstrate the stress condition of fish; soil and natural water samples analysis; investigate the effect of ecological factors on the biochemical and physiological condition of fish.Main results: permanent information exchange between the international water management authorities, outcome of the project published in 7 publications.