WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2013 41 Pond Aquaculture in Austria In Austria pond aquaculture has a long tradition that dates back to the 13th Century. Ponds are a characteristic element of the landscape, especially in the northern part of the country, near the border with the Czech Republic (Fig. 1). Today about 3,000 ha of water surface are used for aquaculture, mostly for common carp Cyprinus carpio. Pond aquaculture in Austria is predominantly conducted at a small-scale level (Fig. 2) compared to the Czech Republic (42,000 ha and 17,580 t/yr; FAO Fishstat Plus 2010) and most farmers receive their main income from agriculture or forestry. The mean annual production is 300-1,000 kg/ha. The production is sold as stocking material and for everyday consumption (307 t and 348 t in 2010, respectively). However, the increasing demand for fish cannot be satisfied by the annual inland production of 2,166 t, therefore 59,666 t of fish and fish products were imported in 2011 (Statistik Austria 2010). The Return of the Otter—Implications for Pond Aquaculture in Austria Markus Böhm, Günther Gratzl and Christian Bauer The European Otter—Recovery and Resulting Problems The European otter Lutra lutra was once native to all of Austria. Through centuries of hunting, persecution, habitat loss and pollution the otter turned from a widespread to a threatened species. Today the otter is well protected by law (local game laws, CITES, FFH, EG 338/97, Ramsar, WFD) and benefits from improving water quality and a steady supply of food, provided by traditional pond aquaculture. This resulted in a marked recovery of otter populations in Austrian carp pond areas over the last decades. The growing otter population in northern Austria is well documented by examination of spraints and tracks. Before 1995 only a few signs of the presence of otter were recorded. In 1999 its distribution was almost completely limited to the carp pond areas in northern Austria. Since 2008, otters became widespread south FIGURE 1. Characteristic fish pond in the carp growing region of Lower Austria (Photo: Federal Agency for Water Management). (CONTINUED ON PAGE 40)
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