Slovenia

Recreational Fishing and Fishing Tourism in

Borut Jerše Fishing Association of Slovenia Slovenia

Surface: 20.273 km2 Population: 2 mio Independent since 1991 EU member since 2004 Currency: EUR since 2006 The organisation of Slovenian freshwater fishing

 Rich tradition going back more than a century.  The bases of the current organisation were laid down in the 1950’s.  The fish in inland waters are a natural resource under the special protection of the State.  Fishing in and lakes is regulated by the Law on Freshwater Fishing (2006).  Fish are managed mostly by individual fishing clubs.  They manage approximately 94 % of Slovenian waters, whereas the remaining 6 % are managed by the public Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia. Slovenian rivers and lakes

 Slovenian waters cover a surface area of 12,000 hectares.  Around 4,000 ha are salmonid waters, the rest are mixed and cyprinid.  The watercourses in Slovenia are divided into the Adriatic and the () basins.  The principal river of the former is the Soca with its tributaries, and that of the latter is the with its tributaries. Fish populations

 The fish populations in Slovenian rivers and lakes are heterogeneous.  Slovenia has 93 freshwater fish species, of which 33 are protected.  There are 25 fish species particularly favoured by anglers.  The normal density is between 200 to 400 kg of fish per hectare. The most interesting fish species for recreational fishing

 Adriatic Basin:  Danube Basin: – Marble trout – brown trout – Hybrid trout (marble – grayling x brown trout) – Danube salmon – Adriatic grayling – nase – barbel – chub – carp – pike – wels Fly fishing

 The first records of fly fishing in Slovenia date back 100 years and more.  Today fly fishing is successfully practised on virtually every single body of water in Slovenia – streams, rivers, fish ponds, and lakes.  The Fly Fishing is possible for: – Salmonids – Cyprinids – Danube Salmon Soca Lepenjica, , Nadiza, Tolminka Baca, Trebuscica Radovna Unica Radescica Fishing for Danube salmon (huchen)

 The huchen is definitely the prize game fish.  The population is in a very good state in many rivers.

Fishing for cyprinids and pike Interaction of biodiversity and economic values in Soca valley

 Study by Dr. Caroline Sullivan, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK.  Project initiated by Rehabilitation project of the Marble trout.  Project lead by Biological Station of Tour du Valat, France.  Information accumulated from a large variety of sources. The upper Soca valley

 The Soca river flows down from the south through to the .  The basin of some 2,300 km2, provides important ecosystem services to Northern Slovenia, as well as valuable natural resources.  It is the trout and grayling which provide an attraction for fishermen, in particular the marble trout.  The ecosystem requirements of fly fishing serve to protect the natural habitats of these species. Fishing impacts on accommodation

 The average foreign fisherman spends a total of 5.4 days in the country.  In general spends a total of 281 € per visit.  2648 foreign fishermen come to the area per year. The social importance of fly fishing

 Employment created from fly fishing is an economic benefit.  Jobs created will provide a motivation for people, possibly young, to stay in the region.  Both the direct and indirect job creation from fly fishing can be considered in this way.  A more secure tourist base can be built by developing more cultural events and competition around fly fishing. Conclusions of the study of upper Soca valley

 Total value of expenditure by foreign fishermen is 1.555.276 € per year.  Spending by Slovenian fishermen in the region is 624.950 € per year.  Financial impact is spread through many types of businesses and generates interest in Slovenia.  Fly fishing also has cultural and social importance in the Soca.  Support given for the preservation of biodiversity and habitats has important additional economic value. Slovenia

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