Due to the low water level, fishing is temporarily prohibited on Lake Skadar

"According to the PMF's opinion, for this time of year, the level should be around 8,5 meters above sea level, so they consider the temporary ban on fishing to be completely justified."
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Lake Skadar, Photo: Luka Zeković
Lake Skadar, Photo: Luka Zeković
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.
Ažurirano: 04.01.2016. 15:57h

Due to the low water level and the absence of coastal vegetation, which enables anglers to catch carp intensively, and at the request of Goran Škatarić, director of NP Skadar Lake, a temporary ban on hunting has been introduced in this protected habitat, announced the National Parks of Montenegro (NPCG).

"Such a request was considered justified by the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The decision to ban fishing was also supported by the fishermen's association, considering that it is very important to preserve the fish stock of Lake Skadar," the announcement states.

Based on the data from the "Plavnica" measuring station, PMF stated that the water level of Lake Skadar is currently at the summer level due to a long period of drought. Thus, on December 28, the elevation was 5,41 meters above sea level, which is slightly above the mean low water level, and certainly below the mean average level, which is 6,46 meters above sea level.

"According to the PMF's opinion, for this time of the year, the level should be around 8,5 meters above sea level, so they consider the temporary ban on fishing to be completely justified," according to the NPCG.

According to the PMF's recommendations, the temporary ban should last until Lake Skadar reaches at least the average new level, which for the measuring station "Plavnica" is 6,46 meters above sea level, and in ideal conditions it would be good to lift the ban only when the lake reaches level of 7 meters above sea level.

"This only applies to the winter period, because during the summer and summer low levels, most fish are at greater depths, and therefore not easily accessible or suitable for mass fishing. If the water level of the lake does not reach the desired level by the time the regular annual ban comes into force, the annual ban that is implemented due to enabling the spawning of carp species should be implemented according to established practice", according to the NPCG.

In the coming days, the Skadar Lake NP Protection Service will strengthen surveillance measures.

The park appeals to citizens to refrain from illegal activities, as well as to report any form of usurpation of space or endangering the flora and fauna of this protected natural area to the hotline number 067/344-356.

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