1 / 8

Prespa Trout Conservation Action Plan: A Tool for Species Protection

This action plan outlines priorities for preserving the endangered Prespa Trout in the Prespa Basin shared by Greece and Macedonia. The plan includes proposals for habitat management and conservation actions. The plan aims to document threats, implement remedial measures, and ensure the long-term viability of the species. By addressing factors such as habitat degradation, water quality, and population decline, this plan is crucial for safeguarding the unique biodiversity in the region. It emphasizes the need for cooperation among stakeholders at both national and transboundary levels to achieve conservation goals.

vlarosa
Download Presentation

Prespa Trout Conservation Action Plan: A Tool for Species Protection

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Species Action Plan for the endemic Prespa Trout Salmo peristericus: A Conservation Tool Photo: F. Doleson / SPP Irene Koutseri1, Alain J. Crivelli2, Svetozar Petkovski3, Yannis Kazoglou1 1 Society for the Protection of Prespa, Agios Germanos, Prespa, Greece 2 Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, Arles, France 3 Society for the Investigation and Conservation of biodiversity and the Sustainable Development of Natural Ecosystems – BIOECO, Skopje, FYR of Macedonia

  2. IUCN (2006) for Prespa basin: 1 of the 10 most important areas for endemic freshwater fish species in the Mediterranean • 9 endemic species, 8 of them “Endangered” or “Vulnerable” • Salmo peristericus: “Endangered” (very high risk of extinction, limited dispersal at headwaters of few streams, conservation priority) • Long-term research in the 2 countries led to production of Species Action Plan (SAP) in 2008 • SAP sets priorities and necessary actions for conservation of the species (including proposals for integrated forest and river basin management) Photo: L. Nikolaou / SPP

  3. Studies on Salmonids done mostly in northern latitudes • Their southern limit of distribution: the Mediterranean • In the Balkans, studies on fisheries of trout (e.g. Lake Ohrid), on distribution, taxonomy & genetics available (no ecological studies) • Detailed morphological & meristic characteristic of the Prespa trout (Karakousis et al. 1991, Delling 2003). No data on ecology & biology (age at sexual maturation, lifetime, fecundity, spawning time, etc.) • Aims of Species Action Plan: • documentation and assessment • identification of threats • proposal of implementation measures and interventions for remediation Photo: L. Nikolaou / SPP

  4. The study area • Investigations in Agios Germanos: 1998, 2000, 2005-2008 (SPP, TdV) • Investigations in Brajcinska, Kranska & Leva Reka: 2006-2008 (BIOECO, SPP, TdV) Photo: L. Nikolaou / SPP • Brief history of trout studies in the Macro Prespa basin (Athanassopoulos 1922-3, Karaman 1938) • Species description (black spots on upper lateral part, red spots) • Ecological & habitat requirements • Taxonomical status

  5. Population Status Photo: L. Nikolaou / SPP • In both countries (oral information): decline in quantities, quality (less big fish) & reduction of spatial distribution (water abstraction, pollution by sewage waters) • Data from sampling under review to produce more firm conclusions • Transboundary aspects (based on ecological significance at national & international levels)

  6. Threats Low carrying capacity of streams (food availability) Lack of stream longitudinal connectivity Altered or destroyed riparian forest affect health of trout populations Increased amounts of fine sediment in streams (reproductive failure, low recruitment) Annual repeated reduction of population through direct removal of individuals Degraded water quality & altered hydrological regime due to water abstraction Global climatic changes (might be responsible of the trout decline today or in the future) Decline of Prespa trout due to combination of the above-mentioned factors (varying degree of significance for each factor in the 4 streams) Lack of management of trout habitats and populations (habitat degradation & decline of populations) Photos: M. Vrahnakis / SPP

  7. Conservation Actions (2009-2013) Water quality score and benthos biomass Estimation of populations within each isolated stretch of stream T data & assessment of riparian forest Assessment of availability of suitable spawning grounds Assessment of poaching & angling “Water Caption Survey” (water used or planned to be used) “Hydrological Balance Study” & “Integrated Ecological Forest Management Plan” Public awareness campaign, designation as a flagship species, Population Viability Analysis “Integrated Management Plan for Prespa Trout populations” Photo: L. Nikolaou / SPP

  8. Conclusions: • Salmo peristericus highly depends on the health of riparian habitats in the Prespa Basin (survival threatened by restricted distribution, small size of populations & current / imminent habitat degradation) • Implementation of scientifically sound management needed to ensure viability & enhancement of the Prespa trout populations and their stream ecosystems in the long-term. • All actions (1-9) necessary. • Species preservation will benefit not only the trout, but also the biodiversity of the whole catchment and the people living within the 4 stream catchments. • The implementation of these actions depends on long-term cooperation and consultations among stakeholders at both national and transboundary levels. Photo: I. Koutseri / SPP Thank you for your attention!

More Related