engleski

Business-Related Infrastructure Project as a Model for Preservation of Indigenous Aquatic Species

Indigenous populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) throughout Europe have been seriously affected by environmental degradation, harvest and enhancement and are constantly decreasing. Brown trout is classified as a vulnerable species according to the Croatian Red List. Croatia’s Gacka River is one of the most fascinating karstic rivers in Croatia ; it is a part of the Adriatic drainage and among the best-known trout sites in the world. Brown trout in Gacka River grows faster than in other karstic rivers, owing particularly to the optimal water temperature with minor oscillations, plenty of oxygen and the water’s mildly alkaline chemical structure. During the past three decades, the river has been managed by several administrations, which occasionally maintained poorly documented stocking activities. Although stocking was generally regarded as a main tool in the conservation and enhancement of fish populations, today it is well known that inappropriate stocking is a threat to the genetic integrity of wild populations. The importance of the project lies in the preservation of indigenous brown trout of verified genetic profile and the possibility of stocking Gacka River with native, genetically authenticated phyilogenetic lineages of fish in its natural habitat thus creating the conditions for a richer offer through development of fishing tourism of already well-known trout river. The project relies on the construction of the basic infrastructure for breeding of captured indigenous brown trout, taking into account the priorities of environmental protection and sustainable socio-economic development. Indigenous spawners were fished out, checked for the presence of pathogens, their sexual products genetically analyzed, and authenticated lineage produced from eggs to fry size suitable for stocking and further growing. The project thus has direct impact on the following: - preservation and breeding of endangered lineages of brown trout, - controlled stocking with bred, genetically verified fish with checked health status, - potential for providing a high quality offer for brown trout sport fishing, - increased possibilities for a quality offer of brown trout as a culinary specialty, - increase in the overall quality of the tourist offer in the region, - greater awareness for the importance of preserving a clean environment, - new conditions for creating new jobs through employment in the breeding center and self-employment related to the work and development of the centre, - increased global recognition of the region and Croatia as a breeding center for indigenous species. The center is the only of its kind in the wider region that combines breeding facilities with scientific research. An entire component of the project is dedicated to the improvement of skills and know-how in the field of business management and fish breeding technology. Therefore, apart form protecting it from extinction, the model is developed for the rehabilitation and breeding of the brown trout, applicable in other regions and countries.

infrastructure project; model for preservation

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