Bio-diversity

Project Description The Macedonian river trout (Salmo macedonicus, Karaman, 1924) is an autochthonous and endemic fish species, a part of the rich biodiversity and natural treasure of our country. It is on the red list of IUCN and there is very little available data s for it. Macedonian river trout was found in the upper part of the river Vardar, river Treska, with its tributaries. Today its population is drastically decreased. In order to protect the disappearing Macedonian river trout from Macedonian waters the project intended to rehabilitate its population in waters where its abundance is decreased and reintroduce it into the waters from where it has started to disappeared. The following activities were undertaken: Formed brood stocks of Macedonian river trout, Produced fingerlings of Macedonian river trout at the age of 9 months, Stocked waters with fingerlings of Macedonian river trout at the age of 9 months. Project achievements Produced fingerlings of Macedonian river trout for stocking of fishing waters in the Republic of Macedonia, especially the rivers Treska, Belicka and Mala Reka, and the reservoirs Kozjak and Sveta Petka. Fished matured exemplars of Macedonian river trout from the Belicka, Mala Reka and reservoir Kozjak for forming the bloodstocks. The bloodstocks were kept in the hatchery Shum Struga (part of the Institute of Animal Science Fishery Department from Skopje) where the spawning was done. The Fertilized eggs were incubated into the hatchery. The fryes and fingerlings were nurtured for nine months. The first stocking was done in October 2009 with more then 10.000 fingerlings in the rivers Treska, Belicka reka and Mala reka. As closing event, the second stocking with 10.000 fingerlings was performed in November 2009 in the canyon Matka. During the event, the grantee presented the project results to the Mayor of Skopje, representatives of the City Skopje and Local Municipality of Saraj, the local population of Saraj and the citizens of Skopje, national media (TV, radio, newspaper). Follow up Future plans are interrelated with the upscale of the project activities reflected in a new project for reintroduction of autochthonous Macedonian river trout in other waters in Macedonia. For this purpose, within the OP4 year grant of 3:2009, GEF SGP Macedonia has approved a project of Sport Fishing Association Vardar (in partnership with grantee Macedonian Fishing Federation). The project co-financier is again the City of Skopje. The new project provides further protection of the Macedonian river trout from extinction, increasing the number of population in the whole flow of the river Treska including artificial dams Matka, Paraskevi and Kozjak and reintroduction into the waters of the Vardar River, Lepenec, Pcinja, Kriva Reka and Bregalnica. The new project contributes to the protection of the Macedonian river trout as part of the rich natural heritage of the canyon Matka, enriching the tourist attraction through the development and promotion of recreational and sport fishing and involving community participation in tourist activities in order to establish sustainable and local eco-tourism.

Macedonia