Slovenia
Recreational Fishing and Fishing Tourism in Slovenia
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 rivers 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 Danube (Black Sea) river basins. The principal river of the former is the Soca with its tributaries, and that of the latter is the Sava 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, Koritnica, Nadiza, Tolminka Idrijca Baca, Trebuscica Sava Bohinjka Radovna Unica Savinja Dreta Krka 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 Julian Alps south through to the Adriatic sea. 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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