22 June 2012 tion of natural food, extensive production and the practice of holding harvested fish in flow-through storage ponds (Figures 5 and 6) enabled Czech carp to gain a reputation as a quality product in domestic and external markets (Figure 7). Fish processing is performed in 14 facilities, ten of them eligible for export to EU countries. There are also about 25 smaller processing units that only work at full capacity in December to meet the demand for fish products during the Christmas season. These products include frozen, chilled, smoked and marinated fish. The proportion of exported to domestically-sold processed fish is 8 – 10 percent. The marketing trend is currently focused on greater and more diverse consumption of processed fish. However, it naturally brings certain technological problems and lower profitability for processing facilities, not to mention another problem rising from the increased competition in supermarket chains. Several factors determine the sale of a fish like carp. A relatively high individual weight (2 - 3 kg) is a must for a fish sold in the domestic market. The nature of the demand is naturally projected onto the whole production system. Thus, the usual age of marketable carp is 3 or 4 years, depending on climatic conditions. Seasonality is another factor. Most sales occur in December in connection with the Christmas season. (Carp soup and fried breaded carp are the traditional Czech Christmas dishes.) Most Czech consumers formerly preferred a scaly form of common carp but this has now changed in favor of mirror carp. The Czech carp aquaculture sector, with its long history, holds a leading place in Europe (Figure 8). Around half of fish production is consumed domestically and the other half is exported. The Czech Republic is the largest exporter of carp in Europe, where exports go to German (40 percent), Polish (15-30 percent), and Slovak (10 percent) markets. The trademarks “Czech carp,” “Třeboň carp” (protected geographical indication), and “Pohořelice carp” (protected designation of origin) have been developed to support the marketing of carp. The role of fisheries in the Czech national economy is rather marginal. However, because of its long history, tradition, and environmental aspects (Figur 9), Czech fisheries have a reputable and stable position in the country and in Europe. Trout Farming The contribution of intensively cultured salmonids to total Czech fish production is considerably lower compared to pond fish production. Over 700 t of market size rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are produced annually. On the other hand, the production of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) for restocking of angling grounds is quite large. Salmonids are intensively raised, mostly in raceways, canals (Figure 10), and earthen ponds in highland regions. However, the number of suitable sites for salmonid farming using flowthrough technologies is greatly limited, resulting from requirements on effluent water quality. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) Recirculating coldwater and warmwater aquaculture systems are used only for the production of fish species such as Fig. 6. Flow-through concrete ponds supplied with good quality river water serve as short-time fish storage before distribution to the market. This fish storage facility is in Pohořelice near Brno. (Photo by Zdeněk Adámek.) Fig. 7. Special trucks are used to transport fish to market. This fish storage pond system is in Šaloun near Třeboň. (Photo by Zdeněk Adámek.) Fig. 8. Carp production in Central Europe (FEAP 2011).
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