Abstract
The chapter covers the current status of salmonid fishes in the Western Balkans in the Adriatic, Aegean, and Danube drainage basins on the territories of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia. Salmonids (family Salmonidae) are freshwater and anadromous fish native to the northern hemisphere. The family is composed of three subfamilies: Salmoninae, Thymallinae, and Coregoninae. Only species of the families Salmoninae and Thymallinae occur naturally in the inland waters of the Western Balkans; these species do not normally migrate to the sea in this area. Of the Salmoninae, in addition to the Danube salmon (Hucho hucho), a large number of trout species (Salmo spp.) can be found here, which is hard to find anywhere else in their distribution range. Two species of the Thymallinae are represented, the European grayling (Thymallus thymallus), which has its southernmost distribution limit in this region, and the Adriatic grayling (Thymallus aeliani) from the northern Adriatic basin. In addition, exotic salmonid species—e.g. rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis), and lake char (Salvelinus umbla)—have been introduced and naturalized in a number of water bodies.
In the inland waters of the Western Balkans, salmonids play an important economic and social role in both commercial and recreational fisheries. Unfortunately, this has long since led to the fact that many of the stocks have been severely depleted, in some cases almost destroyed, by the pressure of fishing. To counteract this, stocking with hatchery fish is common in many places. However, stocking with non-native brown trout has often resulted in genetic introgression into the autochthonous populations of Salmo trouts and loss of their genetic integrity. Other threats to the survival of salmonid populations include water pollution from agriculture and sewage, as well as dam construction, which has particularly increased recently. The increased demand for drinking water as a result of the growing tourism industry poses an additional threat to aquatic ecosystems and could be exacerbated by climate change.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
As part of a new evaluation of Heckel’s type material, a lectotype for the taxon Salmo obtusirostris was designated. Since this lectotype originates from the Jadro River, the Jadro softmouth trout becomes the nomotypical subspecies according to the rules of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (Article 47.1): Salmo obtusirostris obtusirostris (Heckel 1852). The previously used name S. o. salonitanus (or salonitana) is therefore invalid (Hochleithner 2021). However, there are controversial opinions about the necessity of this name change.
- 2.
The four ecological trout forms or species of Lake Ohrid (S. aphelios, S. balcanicus, S. letnica, S. lumi) are often assigned to one species, S. letnica, simply referred to as the Ohrid trout.
References
Apostolidis AP, Madeira MJ, Hansen M, Machordom A (2008) Genetic structure and demographic history of brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations from the southern Balkans. Freshw Biol 53:1555–1566
Bernatchez L (2001) The evolutionary history of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) inferred from phylogeographic, nested clade, and mismatch analyses of mitochondrial DNA variation. Evolution 55:351–379
Bernatchez L, Guyomard R, Bonhomme F (1992) DNA sequence variation of the mitochondrial control region among geographically and morphologically remote European brown trout Salmo trutta populations. Mol Ecol 1:161–173
Berrebi P, Tougard C, Dubois S, Shao Z, Koutseri I, Petkovski S, Crivelli AJ (2013) Genetic diversity and conservation of the Prespa trout in the Balkans. Int J Mol Sci 14:23454–23470
Bianco PG (2014) An update on the status of native and exotic freshwater fishes of Italy. J Appl Ichthyol 30:62–77
Bravničar J (2021) Population genomics and conservation of Adriatic grayling Thymallus aeliani (Valenciennes, 1848) in Soča River. PhD Thesis, University Ljubljana, Slovenia
Bravničar J, Palandačić A, Sušnik Bajec S, Snoj A (2020) Neotype designation for Thymallus aeliani Valenciennes, 1848 from a museum topotype specimen and its affiliation with Adriatic grayling on the basis of mitochondrial DNA. ZooKeys 999:165–178
Brljević D (2014) Education of the public on sustainable water use and the protection of endemic fish in the Neretva River valley (CEPF final project completion report). Croatian Ecological Society “Buna”
Čokorilo Ilić M, Stevanović Z, Ristić Vakanjac V (2016) Environmental aspects and potential impacts of proposed water transfer scheme on sustainable water management in eastern Herzegovina. Environ Earth Sci 75:521
Dalmatinski portal (2020). https://dalmtinskiportal.hr/zivot/zasticena-pastrva-vracena-u-rijeku-vrljiku/67203
Delling B (2003) Species diversity and phylogeny of Salmo with emphasis on southern trouts (Teleostei, Salmonidae). Doctoral thesis, Stockholm University, Stockholm
Djikanović V, Simonović P, Cakić P, Nikolić V (2018) Parasitofauna of allochthonous fish species in the open waters of the Danube River basin (Serbian part) – impact on the native fish fauna. Appl Ecol Environ Res 16:6129–6142
Elvira B (2001) Identification of non-native freshwater fishes established in Europe and assessment of their potential threats to the biological diversity. Document of the 21st Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention of the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Strasbourg, 1–35 pp.
Fishing Worldrecords. www.fishing-worldrecords.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018
Frankham R, Bradshaw CJA, Brook BW (2014) Genetics in conservation management: revised recommendations for the 50/500 rules, red list criteria and population viability analyses. Biol Conserv 170:56–63
Freyhof J, Weiss S, Adrović A, Ćaleta M, Duplić A, Hrašovec B, Kalamujić B, Marčić Z, Milošević D, Mrakovčić M, Mrdak D, Piria M, Simonović P, Šljuka S, Tomljanović T, Zabric D (2015) The Huchen Hucho hucho in the Balkan region: distribution and future impacts by hydropower development. RiverWatch & EuroNatur, 30 p.
Glamuzina B, Stanić-Koštroman S, Matić-Skoko S, Glamuzina L, Muhamedagić S, Rozić I, Weiss S, Pavličević J (2018) Recent status and life history traits of endangered soft-mouth trout, Salmo obtusirostris in the river Neretva catchment (Bosnia and Herzegovina) as a consequence of river alteration. J Appl Ichthyol 34:1160–1168
Gordon HC, Stakėnas S, Cucherousset J (2010) Aliens versus the natives: interactions between introduced pumpkinseed and indigenous brown trout in small streams of southern England. Am Fish Soc Symp 73:347–370
Heckel JJ (1852) Beiträge zu den Gattungen Salmo, Fario, Salar, Coregonus, Chondrostoma und Telestes. Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Classe der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien, 8: 347–391, pls. 7–14
Hochleithner M (2021) Das Typusmaterial der Weichmaulforelle, Salmo obtusirostris (Heckel, 1852). Österreichs Fischerei 74:95–106
Holčík J, Hensel K, Nieslanik J, Skácel J (1988) The Eurasian huchen, Hucho hucho, largest salmon of the world. Dr. W. Junk Publisher, Dordrecht-Boston-Lancaster, p 239
Ihuţ A, Zitek A, Weiss S, Ratschan C, Holzer G, Kaufmann T, Cocan D, Constantinescu R, Mireşan V (2014) Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) in central and South Eastern Europe: a review for the development of an international program for the rehabilitation and conservation of Danube salmon populations. Bulletin UASVM Animal Science and Biotechnologie 71:86–101
Janković D (1963) Trout from Lake Plavsko. Arhiv Bioloških Nauka 15:29–40
Jordan C, Backe N, Wright MC, Tovey CP (2009) Biological synopsis of pumpkinseed (Lepomus gibbosus). Can Manuscr Rep Fish Aquat Sci 2886:1–16
Karaman S (1924) Pisces Macedoniae. Hvratska Štamparija, Split, Croatia, p 90
Karaman S (1927) Salmonidi Balkana [Les Salmonidés des Balkans]. Bulletin de la Societé Scientifique de Skoplje 2:253–268
Karaman S (1932) Novi prilozi poznavanju naših Salmonida. Ribarski List, Sarajevo 7(9–10):1–3
Karaman S (1933) Prilozi ihtiologiji Crne Gore. Ribarski List, Sarajevo 8:104–106
Karaman S (1938) Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Süsswasserfische Jugoslawiens. Bulletin de la Societé Scientifique de Skoplje 18:131–139
Kohout J, Šedivá A, Apostolou A, Stefanov T, Marić S, Gaffaroğlu M, Šlechta V (2013) Genetic diversity and phylogenetic origin of brown trout Salmo trutta populations in eastern Balkans. Biologia 68:1229–1237
Kottelat M (1997) European freshwater fishes. Biologia 52/Suppl. 5:1–271
Kottelat M, Freyhof J (2007) Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Kottelat, Cornol, Switzerland and Freyhof, Berlin, Germany, p 646
Maes L (1898) Notes sur la pêche fluviale et maritime en Belgique. Administration des Eaux et Forêts, Imprimerie Scientifique, Bruxelles, p 295
Marić D (1995) Endemic fish species of Montenegro. Biol Conserv 72:187–194
Marić S, Nikolić V, Paunović M, Simonović P (2009) Istraživanje životnog ciklusa i populacionih karakteristika mladice u Srbiji. Univerzitet u Beogradu – Biološki fakultet i Ministarstvo životne sredine i prostornog planiranja, Beograd, p 79
Marić S, Simonivić P, Razpet A (2010) Genetic characterization of broodstock brown trout from bled fish-farm, Slovenia. Period Biol 112:145–148
Marić S, Razpet A, Nikolić V, Simonović P (2011) Genetic differentiation of European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) populations in Serbia, based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses. Genet Sel Evol 43:2
Marić S, Kalamujić B, Snoj A, Rezpet A, Lukić-Bilela L, Pojskić N, Sušnik BS (2012) Genetic variation of European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) populations in the Western Balkans. Hydrobiologia 691:225–237
Marić S, Razpet A, Nikolić V, Snoj A, Simonović P (2014) Analysis of genetic structure of huchen (Hucho hucho) in Serbia inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Acta Vet (Beograd) 64:236–244
Marić S, Sušnik Bajec S, Schöffmann J, Kostov V, Snoj A (2017) Phylogeography of stream-dwelling trout in the Republic of Macedonia and a molecular genetic basis for revision of the taxonomy proposed by S. Karaman Hydrobiologia 785:249–260
Marić S, Stanković D, Sušnik Bajec S, Vukić J, Šanda R, Stefanov T, Nikolić D, Snoj A (2022) Perils of brown trout (Salmo spp.) mitigation-driven translocations: a case study from the Vlasina plateau. Southeast Serbia Biological Invasions 24:999–1016
Meraner A, Cornetti L, Gandolfi A (2014) Defining conservation units in a stocking-induced genetic melting pot: unravelling native and multiple exotic genetic imprints of recent and historical secondary contact in Adriatic grayling. Ecol Evol 4:1313–1327
Milanović P, Kukrić N (2013) Hydro-power and groundwater in karst, (prepared for the world water development report). International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre – GRAC, 6 p. https://www.un-igrac.org/resource/hydropower-and-groundwater-karst
Mrdak D, Nikolić V, Tošić A, Simonović P (2012) Molecular and ecological features of the soft-muzzled trout Salmo obtusirostris (Heckel, 1852) in the Zeta River, Montenegro. Biologia 67:222–233
Ocvirk J, Voljč B (1981) Die endemischen Süßwasserfische der dalmatinischen Adriazuflüsse: Die Zahnforelle. Fliegenfischer 45:28–29
Papadaki C, Soulis K, Muños-Mas R, Martinez-Capel F, Zogaris S, Ntoanidis L, Dimitriou E (2016) Potential impacts of climate change on flow regime and fish habitat in mountain rivers of the South-Western Balkans. Sci Total Environ 540:418–428
Persat H, Weiss S, Froufe E, Secci-Petretto G, Denys GPJ (2019) A third European species of grayling (Actinopterygii, Salmonidae), endemic to the Loire River basin (France), Thymallus ligericus n. sp. Cybium 43:233–238
Piria M, Simonović P, Zanella D, Ćaleta M, Šprem N, Paunović M, Tomljanović T, Gavrilović A, Pecina M, Špelić I, Maulić D, Rezić A, Aničić I, Safner R, Treer T (2019) Long-term analysis of fish assemblage structure in the middle section of the Sava River – the impact of pollution, flood protection and dam construction. Sci Total Environ 651:143–153
Poljakov GD, Filipi N, Basho K, Hysenaj A (1958) Peshqit e Shqiperise. Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës, Tirana, p 286
Povž M, Jesenšek D, Berrebi P, Crivelli AJ (1996) The marble trout Salmo trutta marmoratus, Cuvier 1917 in the Soča River basin, Slovenia, Tour du Valat, Arles, 65 p
Pustovrh G, Sušnik Bajec S, Snoj A (2011) Evolutionary relationship between marble trout of the northern and the southern Adriatic basin. Mol Phylogenet Evol 59:761–766
Pustovrh G, Sušnik Bajec S, Snoj A (2012) A set of SNPs for Salmo trutta and its application in supplementary breeding programs. Aquaculture 370–371:102–108
Pustovrh G, Snoj A, Sušnik Bajec S (2014) Molecular phylogeny of Salmo of the western Balkans, based upon multiple nuclear loci. Genetic Selection Evolution 46:7
Rakaj N, Flloko A (1995) Conservation status of freshwater fish in Albania. Biol Conserv 72:195–199
Ratschan C (2014) Aspekte zur Gefährdung und zum Schutz des Huchens in Österreich. Denisia, 33. Neue Serie 163:443–462
Razpet A, Sušnik S, Jug T, Snoj A (2007) Genetic variation among trout in the river Neretva basin, Bosnia and Herzegovina. J Fish Biol 70:94–110
Schöffmann J (1994) Zur gegenwärtigen Situation der Marmorierten Forelle (Salmo marmoratus Cuvier, 1817) in Albanien, ihrem südlichsten Verbreitungsraum. – on the situation of Salmo marmoratus in Albania, the southernmost area of distribution of this species. Österreichs Fischerei 47:132–136
Schöffmann J (2016) Die Forellen (Salmo spp.) im Einzugsgebiet des Vardar und des unmittelbar angrenzenden Adriabeckens. - Trouts of the Vardar River basin and the immediately adjacent Adriatic Sea drainage basin. Österreichs Fischerei 69:277–285. + 70 (2017) 79
Schöffmann J (2018) Salmoniden im Einzugsgebiet der Neretva. Österreichs Fischerei 71:264–271
Schöffmann J (2019) Zur Situation der heimischen Forellen (Salmo spp.) Albaniens. - on the situation of the native trout (Salmo spp.) in Albania. Österreichs Fischerei 72:108–115
Schöffmann J (2021) Trout and salmon of the genus Salmo. American Fishery Society, Bethesda, Maryland, p 303
Schöffmann J, Marić S, Snoj A (2019) Trout of Southeast Europe, western and Central Asia. In: Kershner JL, Williams JE, Gresswell RE, Lobón-Cerviá J (eds) Trout and char of the world. American Fishery Society, Bethesda, Maryland, pp 411–456
Simonović P, Marić S, Nikolić V (2007) Trout Salmo spp. complex in Serbia and adjacent regions of western Balkans: reconstruction of evolutionary history from external morphology. J Fish Biol 70/Suppl. C:359–380
Snoj A, Melkič E, Sušnik S, Muhamedagić S, Dovč P (2002) DNA phylogeny supports revised classification of Salmothymus obtusirostris. Biol J Linn Soc 77:399–411
Snoj A, Bogut I, Sušnik S (2008) Evidence of genetically distinct population of Vrljika softmouth trout Salmo obtusirostris Heckel evolved by vicariance. J Fish Biol 72:1945–1959
Snoj A, Marić S, Berrebi P, Crivelli AJ, Shumka S, Sušnik S (2009) Genetic architecture of trout from Albania as revealed by mtDNA control region variation. Genet Sel Evol 41:22
Snoj A, Glamuzina B, Razpet A, Zablocki J, Bogut I, Lerceteau-Köhler E, Pojskić N, Sušnik S (2010) Resolving taxonomic uncertainties using molecular systematics: Salmo dentex and the Balkan trout community. Hydrobiologia 651:199–212
Snoj A, Bravničar J, Zabric D, Sušnik Bajec S (2022) Conservation genetics study of huchen in Slovenia recommends river system-based management and indicates self-sustainability of the middle Sava population. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshwat Ecosyst 32:1171–1183
Spirkovski Z, Palluqi A, Flloko A, Miraku T, Kapedani E, Ilik-Boeva D, Talevski T, Trajcevski B, Ritterbusch D, Brämick U, Pietrock M, Peveling R (2017) Fish and fisheries Lake Ohrid – implementing the EU water framework directive in South-Eastern Europe. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Bonn and Eschborn, Germany, Pegi Sh.p.k. Book Publisher, Tirana, p 99
Stefanidis K, Panagopoulos Y, Mimikou M (2018) Response of a multi-stressed Mediterranean river to future climate and socio-economic scenarios. Sci Total Environ 627:756–769
Sušnik Bajec S, Pustovrh G, Jesenšek D, Snoj A (2015) Population genetic SNP analysis of marble and brown trout in a hybridization zone of the Adriatic watershed in Slovenia. Biol Conserv 184:239–250
Sušnik Bajec S, Zabric D, Šantl S, Podgornik S, Jenič A, Čarf M, Bric B, Pliberšek K, Javornik L, Snoj A (2016) Elaboration of expertise for huchen habitat and population conservation in the middle Sava river: scientific raport, Ljubljana
Sušnik S, Berrebi P, Dovč P, Hansen MM, Snoj A (2004) Genetic introgression between wild and stocked salmonids and the prospects of using molecular markers in population rehabilitation: the case of the Adriatic grayling (Thymallus thymallus L., 1785). Heredity 93:273–282
Sušnik S, Knizhin I, Snoj A, Weiss S (2006) Genetic and morphological characterization of a Lake Ohrid endemic, Salmo (Acantholingua) ohridanus with a comparison to sympatric Salmo trutta. J Fish Biol 68/Suppl. A:2–23
Taler Z (1950) Visovačka jezerska pastrva (Salmo visovacensis n. sp.). Glasnik Bioloske Sekcije, Hrvatsko Prirodoslovno Društvo, Ser 2B 2–3:118–158
Treer T, Aničić I, Safner R, Odak T, Piria M (2003) Note on growth and condition of endemic soft-muzzled trout Salmothymus obtusirostris translocated into a Dalmatian river. Biologia 58:999–1001
Turin P, Zanetti M, Biló MF (2006) Distribuzione e stato delle populazioni di trota marmorata nelle acque del bacino dell’Alto Adriatico. Biologia Ambientale 20:39–44
Veličković T, Snoj A, Simić V, Šanda R, Vukić J, Barcytė D, Stanković D, Marić S (2023) A new perspective on the molecular dating of the brown trout complex with an extended phylogeographic information on the species in Serbia. Contrib Zool 1:1–28. https://doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10046
Weiss S, Marić S, Snoj A (2011) Regional structure despite limited mtDNA sequence diversity found in the endangered huchen, Hucho hucho (Linnaeus, 1758). Hydrobiologia 658:103–110
Weiss S, Apostolou A, Đug S, Marčić Z, Mušović M, Oikonomou A, Shumka S, Škrijelj R, Simonović P, Vesnić A, Zabric D (2018) Endangered fish species in Balkan rivers: their distributions and threats from hydropower development. RiverWatch & EuroNatur, p 162
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Schöffmann, J., Marić, S. (2023). Salmonid Fish Species: Opportunities for Sustainable Use under Multiple Pressures and Current Climatic Change. In: Simić, V., Simić, S., Pešić, V. (eds) Ecological Sustainability of Fish Resources of Inland Waters of the Western Balkans. Fish & Fisheries Series, vol 43. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36926-1_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36926-1_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-36925-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-36926-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)