EU funds help: EU support improves the life of fish in Třeboň

Třeboň - Four hundred and forty fish ponds with a total area of 8000 hectares. They produce 3,200 tonnes of fish annually, and in the Czech Republic alone this is 15 percent of the total production. Ninety percent of this is carp. As the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rybářství Třeboň, a. s., Josef Malecha, said, the local fish ponds are not used only to produce fish, they are also of great importance for water management and the landscape.

"The company spends considerable resources on their maintenance. Some of the ponds are located in the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area with bird areas where farming is restricted, and a significant part of the ponds is part of the Rožmberk Pond System, a national cultural heritage site," he explained.

In recent years, climate change has had an adverse impact on the fish pond management. The fishermen confronted the impact by modernisation of the aeration facilities, which was supported from EU funds. "The lack of permanent snow cover in winter and generally lower winter precipitation means it is difficult to get the ponds to full water level in the spring. Throughout the year, we are confronted with higher evaporation due to higher temperatures and lower regular flows that supply the ponds," Josef Malecha outlined some of the consequences of climate change.

ADAPTATION MEASURES
Higher temperatures place growing demands on ensuring good health of the fish. "It is increasingly important to manage water in the landscape very carefully and to implement climate change adaptation measures. With every season we appreciate more the Golden Canal (Zlatá stoka), built in the 16th century, that feeds water into the ponds of the Třeboň Basin from the Lužnice River and passes water between the ponds," he explained.

According to Tomáš Severa, grant consultant from Subsidia, s. r. o., one of the adaptation measures was the implementation of aeration devices at all important fish storage ponds of Rybářství Třeboň, a. s., which was supported by EU funds. "Efficient air blowers, air ducts and aeration elements were installed on the storage ponds used for selling live fish to end customers. The equipment provides high quality oxygenation of the water in the storage ponds and thus improves the welfare of the ponded fish while reducing the fresh water intake to the storage ponds from the fish ponds or the Golden Canal," he explained the benefits of the new technology.

Another benefit of the subsidised solution is that it is a significantly more energy-efficient and effective way of aerating water than using aerators. They spray water upwards and it comes back with air bubbles, whileblowers bring air directly under the water surface.

In the future, the Třeboň Fishery plans to install photovoltaic power plants on its farm premises as part of reducing its carbon footprint and increasing energy self-sufficiency. That would also be eligible for European aid.

"The support provided under the Operational Programme Fisheries helps fish pond farmers to contribute to climate and environmental protection by keeping the ponds in good condition, retaining water in the landscape and by traditional freshwater fish farming," Tomáš Severa pointed out. According to him, rigorous preparation of the project is very important, also because of the subsequent audits. "The audits thoroughly check compliance with all grant conditions, especially the effectiveness and economy of the expenditure. So it is important to prepare the project well but also to supervise the implementation and compliance with all grant conditions," Tomáš Severa concluded. 

HELP IN TIMES OF COVID
EU funds have also helped fishermen to cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, when restaurants, canteens and other catering facilities were closed, significantly reducing fish sales. "A similar situation occurred in the neighbouring countries, the borders were closed, which severely restricted tourism and cross-border trade. The measures taken had a negative impact on the sale of fish and fish products and led to a drop in our sales," said Josef Malecha.

At that moment, the project Strengthening the competitiveness of Rybářství Třeboň, a. s. helped them to partially compensate for the drop in sales. "It contributed to safeguarding employment and providing the necessary maintenance of the farmed ponds," Josef Malecha concluded.
 
"Efficient air blowers, air ducts and aeration elements were installed on the storage ponds used for selling live fish to end customers. This will oxygenate the water effectively." Tomáš Severa, grant consultant
 
THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM EU FUNDS, FISHERMEN IN SOUTHERN BOHEMIA ARE SUCCESSFULLY COPING WITH THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. Our ancestors left here in the Třeboň region invaluable work in the form of a unique system of fish ponds. Today it is managed by Rybářství Třeboň, which is the largest producer of freshwater fish in Europe. Large grants from European funds are helping them to maintain that position even in the present.

Photo: Deník daily/ Klára Skálová + archive of Rybářství Třeboň