27 Aquaculture development in Bosnia and Herzegovina Jasmin Omeragić Veterinary Faculty Veterinary Faculty of the University of Sarajevo Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina
[email protected] Omeragić, J. 2009. Aquaculture development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In M.G. Bondad-Reantaso, J.R. Arthur and R.P. Subasinghe (eds). Strengthening aquaculture health management in Bosnia and Herzegovina. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No. 524. Rome, FAO. pp 27–33. ABSTRACT Bosnia and Herzegovina has a very long and rich tradition in aquaculture. Important advantages that the country possesses for the development of aquaculture include abundant clean water, high-quality, educated and cheap labour, high capability of fish processing factories, and the high quality of its hatcheries. Thanks to these and other factors, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a great potential for increasing national aquaculture production. During the war period of 1991–1995, the majority of the fish farms were destroyed along with their entire infrastructure. After the war, the process of privatization started, leading to an increase in fish production. The privatization of the fish farms, which since 1995 were in the possession of the State, has broadened the possibilities for aquaculture development in the country, including the use of new technologies, the expansion of capacity and the production of high-quality feeds. The export of fish and fish products from Bosnia and Herzegovina to European Union markets as officially permitted by EU Decision 2008/156/EC is the most important success of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s agriculture sector in the post-war period. INTRODUCTION Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the Western Balkans region and has a total surface area of 51 209.2 km2, of which land accounts for 51 197 km2 and sea accounts for 12.2 km2.