Overfishing of eel is the biggest threat to Lake Skadar

The ecological youth association "Zeleni centar", in cooperation with the Montenegrin Society of Biology Students, made a short documentary film about the European eel in Lake Skadar.

The film, which is educational in nature, according to biologists Miloš Džiknić, one of the authors, shows from different angles the problems faced by the European eel in its natural environment, as well as the importance of its protection in Lake Skadar.

"With the many activities we have carried out so far, including the production of this educational film, we are trying to influence a change in the consciousness of unscrupulous citizens, to emphasize the fact that this type of fish is also very important for the entire ecosystem of Lake Skadar, of which we as we people depend on and benefit from it, and that any change in any part of it, even a small one, would cause changes at the level of the whole of Montenegro. That's why we have to protect our national treasure and the entire living world in it," said Džiknić.

The film, with attractive underwater and aerial footage, was made as part of the scientific-research project "Research on the endangered species of European eel in Lake Skadar".

Džiknić reminded that the European eel is an economically important species both worldwide and in Montenegro, that it is critically endangered and that great efforts are being made to preserve it.

"Excessive fishing of eel, especially in the period of its migration during autumn, represents the biggest threat in Lake Skadar", said Džiknić.

Another member of the team, M.Sc. Biology Jelena Brnović, she reminded that the first scientific research project on Lake Skadar started in 2019.

"The European eel has been placed on the worldwide IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the status of a critically endangered species. On the territory of our country, very little research has been conducted on this endangered species of fish", said Brnović.

As she stated, their goal was to encourage younger colleagues to think scientifically and develop a research spirit, so they organized educational workshops for this purpose.