On June 15th, 2021, as part of the project of the German Development Bank – KfW “Biodiversity and Water Protection Lake Palic and Lake Ludas – Ecolacus”, activities on selective fishing of invasive fish species in Palić Lake continued. Employees of the PE “Palic – Ludas”, in cooperation with an engaged fishing company from Serbia, set up special nets – trap nets – made especially for local needs in the fourth sector of Lake Palic at eight locations. Emptying trap nets is a daily scheduled activity. After the trap nets with caught fish are taken from the lake, the fish get selected and data recorded. The indigenous (so-called “domestic”) species such as pike-perch and carp are returned to the water, while the invasive species, such as the Prussian carp, sunfish, Chinese rasbora, and brown bullhead catfish, are taken out and put in the so-called floating fish baskets / net cages, which stay in the water. After emptying all the trap nets, the caught fish is removed. About a ton – ton and a half of fish is taken out this way daily.
The caught fish was sent to zoos, game feeders and distributed among the local inhabitants. Analyzes of the Veterinary Specialist Institute “Subotica” have shown that they are suitable for human use. Selective fishing is realized following the permit of the Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection, and the decision on nature protection conditions of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province, and also with the inspection supervision. The plan was that selective fishing lasts until 50 tons of invasive fish species were removed. By the end of June, over 15 tons of fish had been caught.
The fish guard service continuously monitored the basic physical and chemical parameters (water temperature, turbidity, weather conditions, dissolved oxygen concentration). Extremely high water temperatures (28-32 °C) were recorded at a depth of 0.5 meters near the set trap nets at the end of June. Low concentrations of dissolved oxygen (1-2 mg / L) were measured at the same time. Due to the stated facts and proposals of the fish guard service and engaged fishermen, the User of the fishing area decided to temporarily stop selective fishing until the conditions improve (water temperatures and oxygen concentration). The continuation of selective fishing in 2021 is planned for the beginning of September.
According to the plan, the fishing will be organized every year on several occasions, but to a lesser extent, aiming to achieve the best results.
