Fish and Fisheries in Prespa

Fish & Fisheries in Prespa C

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Fish & Fisheries in Prespa

Dear friends, We’re sure you will wonder why you have received this diary in the middle of spring, and also why the year begins in May. The answer is that although we have reached the fifth month of the human calendar, for the fish it is only the beginning of their cycle of life. During this period the fish are looking for suitable places to spawn in warm and shallow water. That’s why fishing in the Prespa Lakes is prohibited during this season, so we ensure the safety of the spawning fish.

© SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319 / A. Bonetti

Prespa’s fish are one of the main features of the area because of the unique nature of the species which live in the lakes. Out of the 23 species found in the area, 9 are endemic. This means that they exist only in the Prespa Lakes and nowhere else in the world. It is this exclusivity that makes Prespa one of the most important regions in the Mediterranean.

At the same time, fishing is one of the most important activities in the region. Generations upon generations have grown up in Prespa enjoying the fish from its lakes.

This relationship, between the protection of these rare fish species and the viability of Prespa’s fisheries, is closely interrelated, and we are obliged to preserve it for the benefit of both man and nature.

Society for the Protection of Prespa

Cyprinus carpio The common carp is the largest fish living in the lakes, and can exceed a metre in length and 25 kilos in weight. It was introduced into both lakes, probably during the Roman period or the Byzantine era.

In spite of this fact, it is often

Professional fisherman, Prespa

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© SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

© SPP ARCHIVE / St. Vogiatzis

assumed to be indigenous since the introduction happened so long ago and the species has adapted well to the ecosystem.

It lives on the bottom of the lake and is phytophilous, meaning that it spawns its eggs in shallow areas with low vegetation near the edge of the lake. Its spawning period is from April to June.

MAY2012

Carp

“Those of us who live permanently beside the lake see its problems up close. At any given time, whoever wants to fish just goes and fishes, whether he has a licence or not, and whether he’s from here or not. No one controls it. Even in the closed season this goes on; even then there’s no control.”

APRIL|MAY2012

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in Mikri and Megali Fishing is prohibited e period when the fish Prespa Lakes during th own as the “closed spawn. This period is kn om the middle to the season” and it lasts fr end of spring.

MAY2012

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the closed season, Illegal fishing during ited, is catastrophic when fishing is prohib e females are taken for the fish because th ge to lay their away before they mana millions of eggs.

Carp ‘Stifado’ Serves 5-6 Ingredients 2 kilos of carp 1 ½ cups of oil 1 ½ kilos of onions 4 cloves of garlic Parsley A few tomatoes or some tomato sauce 2 bay leaves 1 finely chopped red pepper Salt and black pepper Clean and wash the carp, cut it into portions and leave them to one side until all the liquid has drained off.

Meanwhile, peel the onions and cut them into slices. Put the oil into a baking tray and heat it until it smokes, throw in the onions and the remaining ingredients except for the fish. After sautéing the vegetables, add the fish portions and splash oil with a little water over them.

Bake in the oven for around an hour.

Bon appetit!

MAY2012

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of the fisheries’ The common carp is one due to its high most sought after fish commercial value.

MAY2012

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has been The common carp population re-stocking, the boosted over time through certain as it effectiveness of which is not also involves many risks.

Rutilus prespensis

Man and nature co-exist harmoniously

Maximum length: 23cm Maximum length: Vulnerable

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Š SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

Š SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

The Prespa roach is an omnivorous species, living mainly at the edges of the lake. It is phytophilous, reproducing in shallow waters with aquatic plants between May and June.

It is the most abundant species in the lakes and its population appears stable in both lakes.

JUNE2012

Prespa roach

MAY|JUNE2012

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spa bleak The Prespa roach and the Pre species are the most numerous fish in the Prespa Lakes.

JUNE2012

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10 SUNDAY ant The Prespa roach is an import birds. food source for fish-eating

JUNE2012

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aquatic organisms, Wet meadows are a haven for many unds for fish; and they are the main spawning gro the lakeside area the management of wet meadows in a primary activity in Mikri Prespa Lake is therefore of Prespa. of the Society for the Protection

Statistics and Fisheries

Ώρα

Μήκος διχτυών

Μέγεθος ματιού

Είδος

Κιλά

One of the most basic activities that the Society for the Protection of Prespa carries out in order to protect fish species is the monitoring of their populations in our lakes. The collection and statistical processing of data is a tool which helps to complete the picture we have of the fish; the more we know about the fluctuations in their populations, the better we are able to manage fish reserves in the lakes.

In the next few years a Management Plan for Fish and Fisheries (MPFF) will be completed by the Prespa National Park Management Body, and a corresponding data collection method will probably be determined. With this diary we’d like to introduce this subject; the aim being to familiarise fishermen and fishery organisations with data collection and processing as tools to help quantify fish catches for the better management of the lakes.

An integrated data collection method requires recording the frequency of fishery activities (how many times a week and how many hours the nets are in the lake), the type and size of equipment (ength and mesh size), the species and the amount which is caught. All these pieces of information are used to calculate an index, which works out the catch of each species per fishing trip, making it easier to assess the situation.

So, on the right hand page of each week is a list of the data which are needed; if those who fish in the Prespa Lakes could record this information whenever possible, we would be able to evaluate the data. In the pages for June we have filled in a simple example for a professional fishery. If you are interested in filling in data, processing it, and contributing to the development of the MPFF then you can contact the Society for the Protection of Prespa for further information.

JUNE2012

18 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

18:00 – 7:00

Net – 50 metres

50 millimetres

5 times

pezovolo

(13 hours)

19 TUESDAY

Species

Kilos

100 kilos Carp Prussian carp 30 kilos Prespa chub 5 kilos Prespa bleak Prespa roach

100 kilos 10 kilos

20 WEDNESDAY

21 THURSDAY

22 FRIDAY

23 SATURDAY

e example, here As can be seen in th filled in: is where catch data is

ter. nets were left in the wa

Time: The length of time which, fill in the number of times For equipment such as they were thrown.

24 SUNDAY

‘pezovola’

nt.

d size of the equipme Length of nets: The type anof the net is, Mesh size: How fine the mesh measured in millimetres. ght on each trip.

Species: The species of fish cau ch species caught.

The number of kilos of ea

Kilos:

Barbus prespensis Maximum length: 30cm Level of threat: Vulnerable The Prespa barbel is found in the Prespa Lakes, and also in a very few rivers in southern Albania. They are commercially fished, and much sought after for their fine flavour.

Unfortunately, in recent years

The Society for the Protection of Prespa has been researching the barbel population, which has been declining in recent years. its population has been in decline. The barbel spawns at the lake edge in sandy and gravelly areas, and its reproduction period runs from April to June.

Lake Mikri Prespa - Station 3: Kranies Prespa barbel - Barbus Prespensis

Š SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

Biomass

JULY2012

Š SPP ARCHIVE / D. Markopoulos

Prespa barbel

JUNE|JULY2012

25 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

26 TUESDAY

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1 SUNDAY

ce involves catching A traditional local practi approach the edge of the barbel by hand as the fish ative consequences for the lake to spawn. This has neg s as the females are taken reproduction of the specie spawn. away before they manage to

JULY2012

2 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

3 TUESDAY

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8 SUNDAY

owed Fishing for barbel by hand is all es on only 14 days of the year, the dat al ion of which are set by the Prespa Nat Park Management Body.

JULY2012

9 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

10 TUESDAY

11 WEDNESDAY

12 THURSDAY

13 FRIDAY

14 SATURDAY

15 SUNDAY

rbel Action In 1996 the SPP published the “Ba management Plan,” which proposes a series of s for the measures and institutional change s. cie spe protection of the

Kilos

JULY2012

16 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

17 TUESDAY

18 WEDNESDAY

19 THURSDAY

20 FRIDAY

21 SATURDAY

22 SUNDAY

the barbel Weirs and dams on rivers prevent reducing wn, spa from travelling upstream to s. und their available spawning gro

JULY2012

23 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

24 TUESDAY

25 WEDNESDAY

26 THURSDAY

27 FRIDAY

28 SATURDAY

29 SUNDAY

tiest The barbel is among the tas are s egg of fish, though their generally avoided.

Pelasgus prespensis

In the old days the level of the lake was so high that it reached the very first houses in the lakeside village of Psarades.

Maximum size: 6cm Level of threat: Endangered

Š SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

Š T. Hatzopoulos

The Prespa minnow lives and reproduces in the lakes, in shallow water with plenty of vegetation, making it a phytophilous species. It feeds mainly on mosquito larvae, and has an extended egg-laying period.

AUGUST2012

Prespa minnow

JULY|AUGUST2012

30 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

31 TUESDAY

1 WEDNESDAY

2 THURSDAY

3 FRIDAY

4 SATURDAY

5 SUNDAY

llest The Prespa minnow is the sma es. endemic fish in the lak

AUGUST2012

06 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

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07 TUESDAY

08 WEDNESDAY

09 THURSDAY

10 FRIDAY

11 SATURDAY

12 SUNDAY

spa spirlin and The Prespa minnow, the Pre the least are ch the southern spiny loa inly due to ma es, known species in our lak their small size.

Kilos

AUGUST2012

13 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

14 TUESDAY

15 WEDNESDAY

16 THURSDAY

17 FRIDAY

18 SATURDAY

19 SUNDAY

tor Fish are a biological indica of water quality.

Kilos

AUGUST2012

20 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

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26 SUNDAY

by the The Prespa minnow is threatened s such as introduction of non-native specie the stone moroko.

Alburnoides prespensis Maximum size: 13cm Level of threat: Vulnerable

© SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

© SPP ARCHIVE / G. Papadimitriou

The Prespa spirlin lives in the shallow waters at the edge of the lakes, and reproduces in May and June. It is lithophilous, which means that it spawns on gravelly and stony substrates.

SEPTEMBER2012

Prespa spirlin A good fish catch is the greatest reward for a fisherman’s efforts.

AUGUST| SEPTEMBER2012

27 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

28 TUESDAY

29 WEDNESDAY

30 THURSDAY

31 FRIDAY

01 SATURDAY

02 SUNDAY The Prespa spirlin is not a commercially fished species.

SEPTEMBER2012

03 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

04 TUESDAY

05 WEDNESDAY

06 THURSDAY

07 FRIDAY

08 SATURDAY

09 SUNDAY The numbers of Prespa spirlin in the lakes are falling.

Kilos

SEPTEMBER2012

10 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

11 TUESDAY

12 WEDNESDAY

13 THURSDAY

14 FRIDAY

15 SATURDAY

16 SUNDAY

mpkinseed sunfish, The stone maroko and pu ies, compete ec which are non-native sp they feed as n li with the Prespa spir on the same food.

SEPTEMBER2012

17 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

18 TUESDAY

19 WEDNESDAY

20 THURSDAY

21 FRIDAY

22 SATURDAY

23 SUNDAY

EU Water Directive One of the goals of the l achieve a good ecologica (WFD2000/60/EC) is to composition in condition and chemical to prevent them d all surface waters, an from being degraded.

SEPTEMBER2012

24 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

25 TUESDAY

26 WEDNESDAY

27 THURSDAY

28 FRIDAY

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30 SUNDAY

ably Water pollution is prob h species fis to at re th st the greate s. in the lake

Cobitis meridionalis

Pelicans might seem to compete with fishermen for fish; in reality, however, they only eat the small fish which are of no commercial value to fishermen.

Maximum length: 11cm Level of threat: Vulnerable This species favours areas with vegetation and sandy, or muddy, substrates. It is a phytophilous species, spawning from April to May in shallow

Š SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

Š SPP ARCHIVE / P. Stathopoulos

waters with vegetation, and may lay its eggs many times over. It is thought to feed on decomposing organic matter and the benthic organisms at the bottom of the lake.

OCTOBER2012

Prespa Southern spiny loach

OCTOBER2012

01 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

02 TUESDAY

03 WEDNESDAY

04 THURSDAY

05 FRIDAY

06 SATURDAY

07 SUNDAY

h only lives for a year The southern spiny loac aching 60mm in only re and grows very quickly, ature of the water er mp te e th en wh 130 days, y and October. is above 10째C between Ma

OCTOBER2012

08 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

09 TUESDAY

10 WEDNESDAY

11 THURSDAY

12 FRIDAY

13 SATURDAY

14 SUNDAY

water ter for irrigation and wa of g in mp pu ve ssi ce Ex . For lume of water in rivers supplies lessens the vo e lake th th wi t ac cuts off cont is th s on ti la pu po h fis nds e area of spawning grou ing and reduces the surfac ow fl e th in d s, which bree for rheophilous specie waters of rivers.

OCTOBER2012

15 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

16 TUESDAY

17 WEDNESDAY

18 THURSDAY

19 FRIDAY

20 SATURDAY

21 SUNDAY

not a commercially The southern spiny loach is ation has remained fished species, and its popul stable in recent years.

OCTOBER2012

22 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

23 TUESDAY

24 WEDNESDAY

25 THURSDAY

26 FRIDAY

27 SATURDAY

28 SUNDAY

sticides The imprudent use of pe tion ca hi contributes to eutrop in the lakes.

Kilos

Squalius prespensis

Fishing is closely interwoven with life in Prespa.

Maximum length: 44cm Level of threat: Least concern The Prespa chub lives in the lakes and the area’s rivers. At different stages of its life cycle it feeds mainly on mosquito larvae and other insects. The largest and oldest individuals also feed on small fish, making

© SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

© SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

the Prespa chub the only predatory endemic fish species in the lakes. It is a relatively plentiful species whose numbers are not declining, and it is commercially fished.

NOVEMBER2012

Prespa chub

OCTOBER|NOVEMBER2012

29 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

30 TUESDAY

31 WEDNESDAY

01 THURSDAY

02 FRIDAY

03 SATURDAY

04 SUNDAY

tion is not in decline, Although the Prespa chub popula individuals are getting it has been observed that larger for its future numbers. rarer and rarer, a worrying sign

NOVEMBER2012

05 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

06 TUESDAY

07 WEDNESDAY

08 THURSDAY

09 FRIDAY

10 SATURDAY

11 SUNDAY

will eat The larger Prespa chub ing them us ca , pumpkinseed sunfish barbs can ’s ish to choke as the sunf . at ro th catch in the chub’s

NOVEMBER2012

12 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

13 TUESDAY

14 WEDNESDAY

15 THURSDAY

16 FRIDAY

17 SATURDAY

18 SUNDAY

latively numerous The Prespa chub is a re to be the best fish species, and it is said for fish soup.

NOVEMBER2012

19 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

20 TUESDAY

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22 THURSDAY

23 FRIDAY

24 SATURDAY

25 SUNDAY

ered t currently be endang The Prespa chub may no g in ad gr de d ocking an but overfishing, re-st y negatively affect ma s nd of spawning grou re. populations in the futu

Salmo peristericus

The endemic Prespa trout lays its eggs in the river during winter and needs very clean, cold water to survive.

Maximum length: 47.5cm Level of threat: Endangered

Š SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

Š SPP ARCHIVE / L. Nikolaou

The endemic Prespa trout is local to the Agios Germanos River and the Brajcinska, Kranska and Leva Reka rivers in Prespa in FYROM. With red spots on its body it looks very much like the common trout, but it rarely grows to more than 35cm.

DECEMBER2012

Prespa trout

NOVEMBER|DECEMBER2012

26 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

27 TUESDAY

28 WEDNESDAY

29 THURSDAY

30 FRIDAY

01 SATURDAY

02 SUNDAY

reatened with The Prespa trout is th reason fishing for extinction and for this ibited since oh this species has been pr July 2009.

DECEMBER2012

03 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

04 TUESDAY

05 WEDNESDAY

06 THURSDAY

07 FRIDAY

08 SATURDAY

09 SUNDAY

pa, in the Protection of Pres In 2009 the Society for ench institute Tour du Valat e Fr collaboration with th in FYROM, al organisation BIOECO nt me rn and the non-gove out,” n Plan for the Prespa Tr put together an “Actio proposed atus of the species and which described the st lations. to conserve trout popu the measures necessary

DECEMBER2012

10 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

11 TUESDAY

12 WEDNESDAY

13 THURSDAY

14 FRIDAY

15 SATURDAY

16 SUNDAY

the ter is extracted from In the summer, when wa sections we irrigation, the lo r Agios Germanos River for e no longer suitable habitat ar of the river dry up and t. for the trou

DECEMBER2012

17 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

18 TUESDAY

19 WEDNESDAY

20 THURSDAY

21 FRIDAY

22 SATURDAY

23 SUNDAY

out, ry important for the tr Riverside forests are ve ter temperatures low, e wa s. as they help to keep th e survival of the specie th which is necessary for

DECEMBER2012

24 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

25 TUESDAY

26 WEDNESDAY

27 THURSDAY

28 FRIDAY

29 ATURDAY

30 SUNDAY

of the greatest Illegal fishing is one threats to the species.

Kilos

Alburnus belvica

Prespa is the only place where you can see fishermen using ‘pezovola’ nets to fish.

Maximum length: 19cm Level of threat: Vulnerable The Prespa bleak lives in small groups, or shoals, and is mainly found in open water. It feeds mostly on plankton and it reproduces in June, at the edges of the lake in places with very little water movement. It is lithophilous, depositing its

© SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

Illustrations: V. Hatzirvassanis

eggs on stony, gravelly or sandy substrates. During the egglaying period the fish migrate in small groups at night, when there are no waves.

JANUARY2013

Prespa bleak

DECEMBER2012| JANUARY2013

31 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

01 TUESDAY

02 WEDNESDAY

03 THURSDAY

04 FRIDAY

05 SATURDAY

06 SUNDAY

essure from both fishAlthough it is under pr pa bleak numbers are es eating birds and man, Pr ke, and stable in Megali La pa es rising in Mikri Pr Prespa Lake.

JANUARY2013

07 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

08 TUESDAY

09 WEDNESDAY

10 THURSDAY

11 FRIDAY

12 SATURDAY

13 SUNDAY

e main food of the The Prespa bleak is th anus crispus) as Dalmatian pelican (Pelic birds in the area. ng well as other fish-eati

JANUARY2013

14 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

15 TUESDAY

16 WEDNESDAY

17 THURSDAY

18 FRIDAY

19 SATURDAY

20 SUNDAY

the most important Prespa bleak is one of a traditional local fish-catches and espa bleak to be Pr recipe calls for fresh small sticks like grilled over coals, on ‘souvlaki’.

JANUARY2013

21 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

22 TUESDAY

23 WEDNESDAY

24 THURSDAY

25 FRIDAY

26 SATURDAY

27 SUNDAY

inly caught in The Prespa bleak is ma itional ‘pezovola’ ad winter, using the tr parts of Great method, in the deeper ti headland.

Prespa Lake off the Ro

Carassius gibelio The Prussian carp is a nonnative species which was introduced from Asia during the 1970s. The species multiplied rapidly and is now common in Prespa, particularly in Mikri Prespa Lake. However, at the same time as Prussian carp numbers were increasing,

Dugout boat

Plava

Traditional boat

Prespa’s traditional wooden boats easily float in shallow water and are perfectly designed for the environment of the lakes.

Š SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

a parallel decrease in the common carp population was observed; no one could have imagined that Prussian carp use common carp sperm to reproduce!

FEBRUARY2013

Illustrations: V. Kavouridis

Prussian carp

JANUARY| FEBRUARY2013

28 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

29 TUESDAY

30 WEDNESDAY

31 THURSDAY

01 FRIDAY

02 SATURDAY

03 SUNDAY

non-native species, The Prussian carp, as a lation of the common is a threat to the popu d in the same habitat an carp, because it lives bits. has the same feeding ha

FEBRUARY2013

04 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

05 TUESDAY

06 WEDNESDAY

07 THURSDAY

08 FRIDAY

09 SATURDAY

10 SUNDAY

use irreparable Fish re-stocking can ca d the s an harm to endemic specie s. ke la e th of environment

FEBRUARY2013

11 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

12 TUESDAY

13 WEDNESDAY

14 THURSDAY

15 FRIDAY

16 SATURDAY

17 SUNDAY

been introduced the In places where it has on is more than 90% Prussian carp populati uses the sperm of the female, as the species uce. common carp to reprod

FEBRUARY2013

18 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

19 TUESDAY

20 WEDNESDAY

21 THURSDAY

22 FRIDAY

23 SATURDAY

24 SUNDAY

the of the introduction of A negative consequence ee gr de e th it may increase es Prussian carp is that ag mm ru it e e lake becaus of eutrophication in th . od fo efforts to find on the lake-bed in its

Lepomis gibbosus

The most common method of fishing has always used floating nets, either gill nets or trammel nets.

The pumpkinseed sunfish is a North American species, which was introduced into Prespa relatively recently, during the 1990s, and since then it has steadily increased in numbers.

The negative impact of the introduction of the pumpkin-

© SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

© Τ. Hatzopoulos

seed sunfish is mostly related to competition for food, but also to the fact that this predatory species can feed on smaller fish and the eggs of other species.

MARCH2013

Pumpkinseed sunfish

FEBRUARY| MARCH2013

25 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

26 TUESDAY

27 WEDNESDAY

28 THURSDAY

01 FRIDAY

02 SATURDAY

03 SUNDAY

d as the Prussian carp an Non-native species, such came into our lakes , the pumpkinseed sunfish are either introduced ey th ; ng through re-stocki ake at the same time as deliberately or by mist ng. common carp re-stocki

MARCH2013

04 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

05 TUESDAY

06 WEDNESDAY

07 THURSDAY

08 FRIDAY

09 SATURDAY

10 SUNDAY

can cause The pumpkinseed sunfish tions of la pu po serious problems for e it feeds us ca be s endemic fish specie g. on their eggs and youn

MARCH2013

11 MONDAY

The weekly catch Time

Length of nets

Mesh size

Species

Kilos

12 TUESDAY

13 WEDNESDAY

14 THURSDAY

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uses for mpkinseed sunfish ca s require The problems the pu er mb nu at its growing endemic fish mean th . constant monitoring

MARCH2013

18 MONDAY

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gets caught up in The pumpkinseed sunfish ing them and injuring fishermen’s nets, tear when they attempt to the fishermen’s hands disentangle the fish.

MARCH2013

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a lake is introduced into When a new species ible for po g it is almost im ss en, through re-stockin se re fo rcussions to be all the future repe before they become ss as many years may pa noticeable.

Chondrostoma prespense

In Prespa, extensive wet meadows provide suitable breeding habitat, with ideal conditions for the reproduction of rare fish and bird species.

Maximum length: 30cm Level of threat: Vulnerable The Prespa nase has a life span of five years and reproduces for the first time during the second year of its life. It spawns early in the year, from the end of April until the end of May. In Mikri Prespa Lake, it deposits its eggs in places with gravelly substrates near the shore, while

© SPP ARCHIVE / LIFE GR319/ A. Bonetti

© SPP ARCHIVE / L. Nikolaou

in Great Prespa Lake it spawns on sandy lakeshore areas and also in rivers. It feeds on small plant organisms, plants and invertebrates.

ΑPRIL2013

Prespa nase

APRIL2013

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ercially The Prespa nase is comm t an no is fished, although it abundant species.

APRIL2013

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fish related In the rest of Europe, e in the wellto the Prespa nase liv vers, but in oxygenated waters of ri lives in the Prespa the endemic nase lakes.

APRIL2013

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the Prespa The spawning period of sting only nase is quite short, la 2-3 weeks.

APRIL2013

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tion The Prespa nase popula Megali is declining slightly in Prespa Lake.

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ility of fish and the viab er For the protection th ge cessary to put to of fisheries it is ne an. a Fisheries Action Pl

notes

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notes

Design & layout Sakis Georgiadis | GRAPHICSTORE Fish illustrations P. Dougalis This publication was printed on elemental chlorine free paper, with neutral PH and absence of heavy metal, originating from sustainable managed forests.

Life+ Information & Communication project (2010-2013): “Fish, Fisheries and European Policy in the Prespa Basin.”

The project is co-funded by the E.U.