FRESHWATER FISHERY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

As fishery, including freshwater, is very important for economy of the Republic of Croatia, the aim of this paper is to show its condition from 1995 to 1998. and also to draw a plan for fish production in 1999. The period from 1998-1999. is more stressed in order to have a total and detailed view into the present condition of the freshwater fishery and into the direction in wish that production is going. Data about carp ponds and also about trout ponds is presented. Twentynine fish-ponds are processed out of which 20 are carp ponds and 9 trout ponds. Data was delivered to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Fisheries Directorate. An assessment of the condition is made for 3 fish-ponds as the desired data was not provided. As to the number of employees on fish-ponds, a slight decline could be percived in the period from 1995 to 1997. In 1998 a number of employees considerably increased for 10.07% in relation to 1997. qualification of the employees in 1998. show that the most of them are unqualified what is in accord with the requirements of a job on a fish-pond. Overall surface of the carp ponds in 1998 was 12,708 and the production surface was 9,782 ha. The most of the fish-ponds have up to 500 ha of total surface (45.45%), while 50% of the fish-ponds have production surface from 500-100 ha. The production in the trout ponds is made on 165,905 m 2 of the overall surface of the ponds, and only 40,538 m 2 are the production surface of the ponds. The production of fish in that period was in constant increase and that increasing trend in expected in 1999, and it will be an 28.30 % increase in relation to 1998. The increase is expected for all kids of fish except for big head carps, silver carps and tinch fishs. As a part of the production of tinch fishs an increase in production of consumption tinch fish is expected, but a decrease in production of one-year and two-year old fishs and two-year old fish. Out of all kinds of fish, the most produced in 1998. was carp (80.93%), then trout (8.30 %), herbivorous kinds of fish (8.01%) and all other fish (2.76%) out of which sheat fish was the most produced. Only slightly changed structure of the production is expected in 1999. Carp production will still be the most prolific and slightly increased - 81.97%, trout - production - 6.68 %, herbivorous fish - 7.69% and other kinds of fish - 3.69% which in increased percentage in relation to 1998. Taking into consideration production surfaces of the fish ponds and the realized production in 1998., it can be conciuded that the average amount in carp fish ponds was 710.37 kg/ha which is substantially under desired amount of about 1000 kg/ha. Surely, it should be stressed that some fish ponds managed to attain that number and even to exceed it. In trout fish ponds the average amount was 133.17 t/ha. The increased production requires an increased need for food. It is expected that the largest expenditure for fish feeding will be that of corn (60.59%), wheat (14.91%), mixture (10.36%), barley (8.38%), and soya shot (3.29%), meat-bone flour (0.48), fish flour (0.51%), medicines, medicinal food and aditives (0.68%) and other food (0.81%). Fish in carp ponds are sold on the domestic market and abroad, while trouts are sold only on the domestic market. Total realization on the freshwater fish market was 45 milions kunas in 1998. As one of the mesaures for improvement of fishery and aquaculture in general are stimuli for production of freshwater fish. On the grounds of the law of monetary incentive in agriculture and fishery. During 1998. A monetary incentive for growing of freshwater fish was payed and it was 5,623,957.01 kunas which is an increase of 77.57% in relation to 1997.