The State of Water in Kosovo, 2010

Raport4.6 THE USE OF WATER FOR FISHING AND AQUACULTUREIn most of freshwaters in Kosovo, fishing and recreational activities are evident butwithout any economical benefit.Conditions that provide rivers, lakes and fishing accumulations are not satisfactory.Water pollution, damage from river beds due to sand extraction and construction ofgravel separators over the river course, has significantly affected the river fishing.Currently, the fishing sector has considerable lacks in development, due to lack of astrategy for the management of fish resources, at both national and local level.Fish resources are national assets, which if used correctly will bring increased revenue,and maintain balance between the fishing and fish resources in one hand and environmenton the other hand.Fish cultivation into the water accumulations can be made with fish species that do notrequire to be fed by man and which guarantee the increase of fishing quantity.The lack of a full inventory and assessment of the fish fauna, is an obstacle to fisheriesmanagement, planning and intensity of fishing, fisheries management and development,protection of endangered and rare fish species etc.. As the most common fish speciesthat are found in our waters are: luce, catfish, trout, perch, roach, sneep, etc.Aquaculture development in Kosovo has started at early 60-es. The quantity of fishproduction in the basins is minimal, about 300 tonnes / year. Trout produced in Kosovois mainly consumed by the hotels, but very few is available in the market.According to analysis made by MAFRD, considering local production of fish in the existingfishpond, and imported fresh and frozen fish, the total fish consumption in Kosovo is 0.8kg / capita, that is below the fish consumption average of the region.The potential rivers for trout cultivation in Kosovo are: Drini i Bardhe, Lumbardhi i Pejes,Reqani, Lepenci, Morava e Binçës, Brodi and Restelica in Dragash etc. Apart from therivers fish production is possible in the lakes by applying the fish cultivation in cages.Considering the water resources and market demand, with improved technology andproduction cost reduction, development of aquaculture has good perspective in Kosovo.70120 © Agjencia e Kosoves per Mbrojtjen e Mjedisit