Various circumstances have put the survival of the indigenous Black Sea salmon (Salmo labrax) at risk. In order to prevent the extinction of this species in the area of the Plitvice Lakes and ensure the stability of aquatic ecosystems, a number of activities have been designed to deal with the observed anthropogenic threats, as well as their negative consequences.
The project “The restocking of the brown trout”, carried out by the Faculty of Science of the University of Zagreb in cooperation with the employees of the Park’s expert service, is aimed at increasing the Black Sea salmon population density, effective size and genetic diversity in the Plitvice Lakes National Park in order to ensure their stability and variability.
The brown trout (Salmo trutta), the second most prevalent species in the Plitvice Lakes, is very likely indigenous to this area and is present in the Plitvice Lakes watercourses owing to restocking.
The project activities include broodstock spawning on the banks of the Plitvice Lakes watercourses, the transfer of fertilised eggs and their rearing in optimal conditions on the fish farm Gacka d.o.o. and the return of fry to the watercourses in two stages – the “eye stage” fry and the two-month larvae.
This project is aimed at increasing the density and variety of the indigenous Black Sea salmon in the area of the Plitvice Lakes in order to ensure its viability and to allow it to once again become the dominant and key species in this ecosystem.