Review of the status and regulation of commercial and recreational fishing in Serbia Marija Smederevac-Lalić Institute for multidisciplinary research, University of Belgrade Szeged 2013.
Fishing in Serbia traditional economic and recreational activity. The fish was a symbol of existence and living in the prehistoric period in this part of the world. During the Turkish reign in Serbia, due to the existence of developed fishing activity fishing guild was established. Around Belgrade fishermen carried the name ' halasz'' by Hungarian and ' balugdzija'' by Turkish.
Initial law regulations in Serbia 1859. Regulation of fisheries in Serbia 1878. Act about Water and their utilization 1898. The first Law on fishing in the Kingdom of Serbia 1911. Law on Fishing in the Kingdom of Serbia 1912. first association of professional fishermen 1938. New Law on Fisheries of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Under the law there was an article that dealt with the protection and promotion of fisheries. Fishermen Cooperative had a task - ''rational performance, improvement and development of fishing, farming, processing, sales organization and transportation of fish and generally improving economic interests of its members''. State and regional units supported such alliances.
Fishing - great importance for the local community, common perception and habit to use rivers as a public good and an ownership which belongs to everybody (but much more to the people living along the rivers). Traditional, expected, common, deeply rooted behavior. Food is there, it should only be caught! Self regulation (inherited rules) law regulation and control are interpreted as interference with inherited traditional rituals but close interface between local communities and the river indicates the need for regulation in order to achieve the sustainable use of natural resources, and development of local community.
The fishing waters and fishing rights in Serbia Fishing waters and fish resources are state property. Commercial fishing in Serbia can be performed only on the Danube, Sava and Tisa River. Fishing waters in Serbia are divided in 6 areas which are given to assigned users: public or private companies, fishing associations and fishing unions.
The present legal framework The organization is divided between four ministries: Ministry of Natural Resources, Mining and Spatial Planning (conservation and sustainable use of fish resources), in Vojvodina Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection. Ministry of Energy, Development and the Environment (environmental protection, nature conservation, endangered wild flora and fauna, which includes a number of fish species). Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management (aquaculture, transport, fish market, veterinary control of fish and fish products). Ministry of Finance and Economy (part of jurisdiction from the definition fisherman entrepreneur ). Funding???? abolished the Fund for Environmental Protection
Sector seems to be well established through a number of laws and regulations which can be divided in 2 groups: 11 general strategic documents (in the area of the environment, but have to do with fishing resources) 14 in the field of commercial and recreational fishing. Practical application of laws and regulations indicates that the sector is organized without proper harmonization. Legislation exists, but the problem is that there is a lack of the state of the resources, as well as basic socio-economic characteristics of the entities for which such documents are made fishermen and anglers. Lack of harmonization and implementation can reduce efficiency even in the best planned fishery regulations.
Major aspects of socio-economic dimensions of freshwater fishing Freshwater fishing represented by 2 major groups: recreational (sport) fishing and commercial fishing. Recreational fishing is much more widespread and these fishermen are organized into their association. Recreational fishing is done mostly for pleasure, but also for regular feed and in some cases for sale. It has been estimated that freshwater fish consists 30-50% of total diet for the population along the rivers. In this sense, recreational fishing is not only a recreation, but also a necessity for many. For the other group, commercial fishermen, fishing is not only a family business, a tradition, a subsistence activity, a need but for most families, profession (commercial activity) or at least a source for additional income (profit).
Number of registered commercial fishermen in Serbia is decreasing. 1995-2004 number of registered commercial fishermen per year was around 1200, while in 2010 was 511. Number of registered recreational fishermen in Serbia is increasing, but in the last few years has a stable number. 100000 recreational f. commercial f. 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 120000 100000 80000 60000 1200 1000 800 600 Commercial f. 40000 20000 Recreational f. 400 200 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Due to low standard of living, consequences of the homeland war, high rate of unemployment, high jobless rate, closing down of many factories, privatization and transition process of a post-socialist society, older and retired population, a relatively highest share of the population in the country with no income, fishing along the rivers turned to be more and more a kind of subsistence fishing. The fish is more and more used as a regular diet by certain social strata of population, and this might represent a major motive for fishing. Two major groups of fishermen reflecting two structurally different social positions: one is regulated through accidental and recreational type of activity, the other is regular economic activity, a regular economic base of living. Knowledge about the present and historic fishery pressures based on the number of fishermen, their fishing effort and catch quantities, is a prerequisite for the efficient management of fishery resources, which is commonly realized by keeping regular management statistics.
Total catch (t) Records since 1948, while the data on exact species composition was introduced 1951. By 2005, the data on annual catches have fluctuated around a mean value of 860 tons. After, there was a significant increase in the mean value of the total annual catch, which is less likely to be the result of an actual increase of the total catch, than a result of a change in the methods of data collection and fishery management. 4700 4200 3700 3200 2700 2200 1700 1200 700 200 Since 1951. separated species 1969. commercial fishing is separately recorded from recreational. since 2005, data collection methodology was changed. year
Statistical data can not be used as a mean of evaluation of fish resources, but can only show the trend of some attractive species for fishing. Before 1990s almost entire catch has been redeemed by the authorized public companies for reasonable price in accordance with the price of fishing license, and the fishermen had an interest to give total catch to purchase. Good quality of catch statistics is necessary for a better assessment of the state of fishing resources, better sustainable management, use of resources and economic evaluation of fishing activities.
Species of the commercial importance nowdays sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) common carp (Cyprinus carpio) wels (Silurus glanis) pike perch (Sander lucioperca) northern pike (Esox lucius) bream (Abramis brama) prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) barbel (Barbus barbus) grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Volga pikeperch (Stizostedion volgensis) asp (Aspius aspius) orfe (Leuciscus idus) common nase (Chondrostoma nasus) burbot (Lota lota) 31-59 % of the catch is the second class fish
According to the official statistics, the total fish catch in Serbia was increasing as a result of various factors: - higher prevalence of white fish and non-native species in the total catch, - the increase in the number of recreational fishermen who contributed to the total catch, - legally obligatory catch records and reporting to competent institutions. Although existing statistical data are not reliable due to a lack of application of standardized methods, they can be used for a basic monitoring of the general trends in the catch.
Fishing market Freshwater fish is not a regular diet in the whole country, except in some areas close to and in the surroundings of major rivers where exist dependency (habitualized) and fish is regular diet. Freshwater fish is not almost at all treated for the market and is not accessible in major supermarkets and on the broader markets. The placement of freshwater fish on the market is not well organized. Purchase and processing of fish products doesn t exist almost 20 years. There are just individuals who produce small quantities for personal use. Fishermen were forced to self-navigate in the sale.
The origin of the freshwater fish in the fish markets 13.2 % no answer 23.7 % fish from fishermen 63.2 % aquaculture
The major part of the catch goes on sale outside of regular market chanells. Serbia increasingly import fish and fish products and low prices of imported fish compete with sales of domestic freshwater fish. Pangasius sp. is the third among the most wanted freshwater fish, immediately after carp and trout. There is less specialized restaurants for freshwater fish. One of the old fish restaurants on Danube, known by the Danube fish in last years sales 45% of marine fish and 55% of freshwater fish.
Fish market is poorly organized and there is no system of organized purchase of the fish. Most of the fish sales pass through short marketing channels. The absence of an organized fish purchase system and insufficient management of the fishery sector have resulted in poor data reliability. The freshwater fishery is insufficiently regulated area that depends on the personal commitment and individual responsibility. Current organization of the entire fishery sector is divided among to many institutions with different competencies and priorities. Sector seems to be well established, but practical application of the legislation indicates that the fishery sector has been developed without adequate harmonization in this area.
The positive experiences from other countries in taking advantage of the views, experiences, opinions and resources knowledge of fishermen, should be used as a good basis for the sustainable fishery planning, monitoring and enforcement of resources, and this can be applied in the fishing areas in Serbia.
Thank you!