Journal of Ecological Engineering Volume 17, Issue 3, July 2016, pages 185–192 DOI: 10.12911/22998993/63322 Research Article CONDITIONS OF FISH FARMING IN NATURA 2000 AREAS, BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE CATCHMENT OF BARYCZ Katarzyna Tokarczyk-Dorociak1, Andrzej Drabiński1, Szymon Szewrański2, Sławomir Mazurek3, Wanda Kraśniewska3 1 Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław Universiy of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24a, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] 2 Department of Spatial Economy, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka 53, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland 3 Stawy Milickie SA, Ruda Sułowska 20, 56-300 Milicz, Poland Received: 2016.03.31 ABSTRACT Accepted: 2016.06.01 One of the factors that contributed to the construction of approx.77 km2 offish ponds in Published: 2016.07.01 the catchment of Barycz starting from the 13th century, which in turn transformed the woods into a mosaic of waters, forests and arable land, were the advantageous physi- ographic conditions. Fish farming operations conducted in this area led to the creation of a cultural landscape characterised by unique natural values, similar to the natural landscape. Approx. 240 species of birds are observed here, of which 170 are nesting species. Due to its natural values, this area has been subject to natural reserve protec- tion as part of the Landscape Park “Dolina Baryczy” (the Barycz Valley). It was entered in the “Living Lakes” list and it is protected under the Ramsar Convention as well as under the European nature protection network Natura 2000. The established forms of nature protection mean the introduction of a certain binding regime, pursuant to which the economic activity conducted in protected areas must take into account the prohibi- tions and orders introduced by documents that establish the said forms of protection. Additionally, there is a legal requirement to create a protection plan or conservation plan that constitutes a basis for the realisation of conservation-related objectives. A commercial company Stawy Milickie S.A. (public limited company) operates in the area of this largest fish pond complex in Poland. The scope of its operations includes more than just the breeding and sale of freshwater fish (6500 ha of ponds) but also envi- ronmental protection, environmental education and the development of tourism as well as stimulating the development and professional activation of local communities bas- ing on the natural resources that exist in the catchment of Barycz.This study presents the conditions related to fish farming operations conducted in this area. Conducting an extensive management (i.e. often uneconomical from the economic point of view) is a prerequisite for maintaining the biodiversity of this naturally valuable area. The con- servation plan of the nature reserve “Stawy Milickie” (Milicz Ponds) contains a series of obligations and limitations with respect to fish farming. The development strategy of the Stawy Milickie SA Company takes into account all these conditions. Keywords: carp ponds, Barycz Valley, Natura 2000, fish farming INTRODUCTION ral habitats and water-dependent landscapes characterised by a high natural diversity. The Since the 13th century, fish farming op- main function of fish ponds is the production erations conducted in the Milicz Ponds have of food, although their role in water retention contributed to the creation, and later also to and the protection of water quality as well as the protection of a wide range of semi-natu- in maintaining biodiversity has been attracting 185 Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 17(3), 2016 increasing attention recently [Walczuk, Ro- CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TEST AREA manowski, 2013]. Fish ponds are a very impor- tant habitat of wetland birds, and they are quite Barycz is a right-side tributary of the Odra often one of the most important ecosystems in River, of a length of 136 km. The catchment area the aspect of biodiversity in a landscape trans- is 5547 km2. The Barycz River has its source in formed by humans. the marshy Milicz Basin, and its estuary in the The example of Milicz Ponds shows that vicinity of Wyszanów (Figures 1 and 2). The anthropogenic activity may foster the creation Barycz river network has been subject to sig- of a landscape characterised by high natural nificant changes during the years. These changes and landscaping values. Thus, in this instance, resulted mainly from the economic usage of the humans have contributed to the “production catchment, in particular in connection with the of nature”. Due to the above it is necessary to fish farming operations that have been conducted conduct fish farming operations in such way here since the 13th century. Factors that fostered that will enable the protection of these values. the development of fish farming included the This may be the time when the highest number natural terrain formation, low inclinations of the of conflicts occurs, as, on the one hand, pro- Barycz river, the presence of flatlands and water duction in fish farming ponds fosters the co- availability. Since the beginning of the fishing creation of landscape values, but, on the other operations of the Cistercian monastery, the fish hand, many operations related to fish farming farming operations have been the main factor that and production have a negative influence on shaped the Barycz Valley. The currently observed the same values. In the Barycz Valley, the co- natural and landscaping diversity of the discussed existence of fish farming and environmental area results from the transformation of the Barycz protection is practically an absolute precon- catchment by fish-farming operations. The catch- dition for the protection of the natural values ment has been subject to various forms of con- characterised by a high level of biodiversity servation for over half a century. The following and landscape diversity. environmental protection forms were established Figure 1. Location of the Barycz catchment 186 Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 17(3), 2016 here: Landscape Park Dolina Baryczy (Barycz planned to achieve a farming fish production of Valley), Protected Landscape Area Dolina Bary- 3000 tonnes of various species. The whole breed- czy (Barycz Valley), nature reserves and Natura ing cycle of the Milicz carp takes place in the Bar- 2000 protection areas: SPA PLB020001 Dolina ycz Valley (including carp fry, which is also bred Baryczy (Barycz Valley) and PLH020041 Ostoja in the Milicz Ponds). The production cycle of the nad Baryczą (Barycz Refuge). Milicz carp lasts 3 years and consists of 5 stages: spawning, breeding carp fry, growing and winter- Fish farming ing of autumn fry, table fish farming, catches. Fish feed on natural nutrients generated in the Fish farming in this area started to develop as ponds, and are additionally fed with only cereal early as at the beginning of the 13th century. Natu- fodder. Production is based on breeding methods ral terrain formation, low inclinations of the Bar- traditionally used in the region. Like centuries ycz River and the presence of flatlands facilitated ago, most of the works are performed manually the construction of ponds. In the Middle Ages, the by qualified fishermen under veterinary supervi- Cistercian monastery created approx. 2300 ha of sion, in compliance with the requirements of hu- ponds. In the 16th century, several hundred hec- manitarian treatment of fish. tares of new ponds were constructed by the Kur- zbach family, and later a fish farming boom took place in the 17th and 18th centuries. During this NATURAL VALUES AND ENVIRONMENTAL period, the area of ponds increased from 9970 ha PROTECTION FORMS IN THE BARYCZ (in 1739) to 13 195 ha (in 1783) and then gradu- VALLEY ally decreased to 6300 ha (at the turn of the 19th and 20th century) [DUŚ, 2009]. Nowadays, the Centuries of fish farming operations con- Stawy Milickie SA Company is operating an area ducted in the Barycz Valley led to the creation of of approx. 7000 ha. The natural and landscaping a unique landscape. Due to landscape and natu- values of the Barycz Valley are mainly connected ral diversity these values have been covered by with the functioning of the fishing ponds, tradi- various forms of nature protection. The Milicz tionally called the Milicz Ponds. It is a complex Ponds (Figure 2) are particularly valuable from of carp ponds located in the vicinity of Milicz, the natural and landscaping point of view. This is Stawno, Ruda Milicka and Ruda Sułowska. The a cultural landscape, as it emerged as a result of protection of natural values depends on the con- combined environmental and cultural conditions tinuity of the conducted fish farming operations. that generated a unique structure which manifests Currently, the entity responsible for the operation itself in a form of regional identity, perceived as of Milicz Ponds is the Stawy Milickie SA Com- a specific physiognomy [Myga-Piątek, 2006]. pany. It was created pursuant to a tri-lateral agree- The landscape of the Milicz Ponds was created ment between the Agricultural Property Agency, by anthropogenic transformations of the natural the Lower Silesian Voivodeship and the Voivode landscape, where hydrological structures were of Lower Silesia on the establishment of a pub- constructed for the purposes of fish farming. lic limited company from the dissolved National Currently, the Stawy Milickie SA Company is State Budget Facility Stawy Milickie. In Novem- operating an area of approx. 7000 ha of ponds, of ber 2010, the Lower Silesian Voivodeship estab- which 65% are covered by protection as natural lished the public limited company Stawy Milickie reserve. The largest ornithological reserve in Po- SA, with its registered seat in Ruda Sułowska. On land “Stawy Milickie” (Milicz Ponds), of an area October 11th, 2011, the Minister of State Treasury of 5324.31 ha was created here. (Approx. 240 signed a decision on free assignment of a package species of birds are observed here, of which 170 of shares worth PLN 135.8 million to the Lower are nesting species).