Stakeholder interest in Stakeholder interest in Lake Ferto restorationLake Ferto restoration

Focus on the fishery sectorFocus on the fishery sector

Dr. Zoltan KaracsonyiUniversity of Debrecen

Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

3. LAKEPROMO MEETING AND SEMINAR 26.10. – 28.10.2005

University of Brighton, UK

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

General overview of General overview of Lake FertLake Fertoo

- Location: Austrian-Hungarian border- Austria – touristic, nature cons.- Hungary – Iron curtain, limited access area (Zero develoment until 1989)

Main features:• Shallow (average depth below 1m)

• Highly saline (avg. salt content 2000 mg/l)

• Small watershed (1200 km2) compared to lake surface (310 km2); rate only 3:1)

• World heritage title (December 2002)

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Most important stakeholders in Most important stakeholders in water managementwater management and restorationand restoration of of Lake FertoLake Ferto

•environmental authorities•national parks•farmers and agricultural organizations•development agencies•fishery associations•fishermen•anglers•universities•research institutes•reed management•municipalities•tourism organisations

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

• interviews and workshops: to get acquainted with actors’ points

• stakeholder conference: possibility to present views

• stakeholders were presented from both sides of the border (Austria and Hungary: 22-23 Sept 2005, Sopron)

• great emphasize were put on the Fishery sector because on one hand there were co-operation in terms of fishery before and on the other hand there is a chance to create and implement a joint development plan

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Applied methodsApplied methods

Regional development aspectsRegional development aspects• Strategic planning

– Regional development programme

– County development programmes

– Phare CBC; Interreg

• National programmes– National decentralised

sources– Phare CBC

• International programmes– West-Pannon EuRegion– Reginalmanagement

Burgenland (RMB)– Pannon Pedal –

Burgenland Tourismus– Hallo Nachparn

• Planned priorities:– ‘Our living space’

measure within the frame of regional development programme

• Protection of the Protection of the ecological state of ecological state of Lake Ferto, Lake Ferto, improvement of improvement of water qualitywater quality

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Agricultural aspectsAgricultural aspects

Lake Ferto areaLake Ferto area:

– Arable land 7.000 ha

– Grape 1.350 ha

– Fruits 236 ha

– Grassland 2.900 ha

National Rural Development National Rural Development Plan target programmes:Plan target programmes:

– Basic arable land– Arable plant production -

habitat development– Integrated arable crop

production– Grassland management with

habitat development instructions

– Grassland habitat management

– Integrated plantation– Ecological plantation – Reed management

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Aspects of national parkAspects of national park

• Fertő-Hanság National Park (Fertő) - 12641 ha– Especially protected:

4100 ha• Neusiedler See – Seewinkel

National Park - 9365 ha

Zone areas– Natural belt: 4070 ha– Managed belt: 4911 ha– Demonstration belt:

3660 ha

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Aspects of national park - Ferto Aspects of national park - Ferto LandscapeLandscape

• Open water surface: 1203 ha

• Reed: 3679 ha

• Rarefied reeds, reed-mace with high sedge : 2617 ha

Totally: 7499 ha

• Length of channels: ~340 km

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Aspects of research instituteAspects of research institute

Causes of reed degradation:•Physical damages•Eutrophisation•Water level fluctuation

For the harmonized nature protection – management – water management – other utilization (reed management, fishery management, ecotourism) strategy of the whole Ferto, the healthy reed stock is a common interest. The regular reed harvest executed with adequate technology has to serve this.

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Water quality issues – aspects of water Water quality issues – aspects of water authoritiesauthorities

Interventions:

•Water level regulation•Reduction of external loads•Improvement of flow relations

Recommendations:

•Due to unfavourable level of oxygen, the enhancement of fresh water supply of reed stock is recommended

•Maintenance of channels is required for fishery aspect to increase fish habitat and spawning area

•The direct burden impact of external waters should have to be avoided

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Aspects of anglersAspects of anglers

• Angling in open water by boat

• Other areas where angling is permitted but impossible due to water level

• Protected areas – no entrance for anglers

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

• Anglers associations: 10

• Totally about 2251 anglers (members of associations)

Aspects of FisheriesAspects of FisheriesFish stock:

• Fisheries data since 16th century

• Fauna: 23-24 permanent species

• 1950’s and 1960’s: 30 endemic and 2 foreign species (Anguilla anguilla, Ictalurus melas)

• Since1975: regular deployments with eel, pikeperch, pike, carp, catfish

• Long-term (15-20 years) overdeployment (4 million/year) with eel had unfavourable impacts

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Recent practice:

• Entitled for fishery: national park and water authority

• Fish fauna: 17 endemic and 6 foreign species

• Fisheries: 9 independent fishermen (local

• Electronic fishery equipments are prohibited

• On Hungarian side: overburden by fisheries

Aspects of Fisheries – fish stock surveyAspects of Fisheries – fish stock survey

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Survey:

•3 times •For the whole Hungarian part•Aug 2005: acoustic fish stock survey on both sides of the border

Aspects of Fisheries – recent fish faunaAspects of Fisheries – recent fish fauna

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Magyar név 1. Angolna

2. Bodorka

3. Vörösszárnyú keszeg

4. Kurta baing

5. Küsz

6. Karika keszeg

7. Dévér

8. Lapos keszeg

9. Garda

10. Kínai razbora

11. Ezüstkárász

12. Ponty

13. Harcsa

14. Csuka

15. Naphal

16. Sügér

17. Vágódurbincs

18. Süllő

Tudományos név

Scardinius erythrophthalmus

Anguilla anguilla

Rutilus rutilus

Leucaspius delineatus

Alburnus alburnus

Sor-szám

F A J N É V

Abramis ballerus

Pelecus cultratus

Blicca bjoerkna

Abramis brama

Stizostedion lucioperca

Lepomis gibbosus

Perca fluviatilis

Gymnocephalus cernuus

Silurus glanis

Esox lucius

Carassius auratus

Cyprinus carpio

Pseudorasbora parva

• Recent fish stock is legging behind the desired both in quantity (biomass) and compound

• In case of economic fish the stock is decreasing, younger ages are missing

• Some prey fish stocks are strong (bleak, carp bream, white bream, ziege)

• Opportunity for natural reproduction is limited• Lack of reproduction + intensive fisheries• This can’t be complemented by deployment• Solution: spawning place development (adequate site

and channel system supporting getting back)

Aspects of Fisheries – recent situation, Aspects of Fisheries – recent situation, problems, solutionsproblems, solutions

University of DebrecenCentre for Environmental Management and Policy