Institutions announce strict controls for trout and eel in Lake Ohrid
Officials say illegal fishing and obstacles to eel migration endanger endemic species; inspections will be continuous across all fishing zones.
Authorities warn that illegal fishing and excessive catches remain a serious threat to the fish stock of Lake Ohrid, putting endemic and protected species at risk. The situation is described as particularly critical for the Ohrid trout and the Ohrid eel.
Quota rule and migration barriers
Under established protection protocols, exactly 40 percent of the annual quota for eel must be returned to the lake to allow natural reproduction and to prevent the species’ disappearance from the ecosystem. Obstacles along the eel’s migratory route, together with illegal harvest, make urgent implementation of international conservation directives necessary.
Recent official figures record dozens of violations and resulting sanctions for unlawful fishing in the lake’s waters. Inspectorates report that enforcement actions will be continuous across all fishing zones to stop any unauthorised destruction of the fish stock.
Environmentalists are calling for greater public environmental awareness and closer cooperation between citizens, fishing organisations and the police. They stress that long-term survival of lake species depends not only on artificial restocking but primarily on strict compliance with legal provisions and effective protection against poaching.
Institutional sources say intensified checks and sustained cooperation among local actors are needed to stabilise populations of the Ohrid trout and eel and to ensure the lake’s ecological balance is preserved for the future.
Photo: press material from the event
