The idea of building a fish hatchery to confront the problem of over-harvesting first appeared in the Master’s thesis written by Mr. Nedzad Ajanovic for the University of Calgary, Canada. The potential of the project has attracted both support and funding from national and international actors. The project was started in December 2003, with funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and support from FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. FAO is recognized for its capacity and skills in technical advice for aquaculture, particularly in hatchery management and restocking exercises. The project is being implemented by a non-profit company, Eko Riba Krusnica, and this company will stay in charge of operating the fish hatchery after the end of assistance from their donors, Norway and FAO.
In 2004 the completion of the legal framework and the technical planning for the hatchery establishment was achieved, along with the construction of a road, the hatchery buildings, and a water supply from the source of the Krusnica River. The aim of the hatchery is to produce local strains of brown trout, grayling and Danube salmon for re-stocking the natural rehabilitation of fish populations and to help revitalize local tourism. The project has already been successful in increasing the number of fish in the Krusnia River, as well as providing an increased income for the local population from working at the hatchery and sales of fingerlings for re-stocking depleted fishing rivers in the Danube basins.
A single fish hatchery cannot be the solution to all problems related with fisheries in Bosanska Krupa, or even the country as a whole. However, improvement in fisheries management, habitat maintenance, conservation, education, monitoring and research, will create a sustainable and fully functioning fishery system, will serve as an example to other fish hatcheries in BiH and beyond. Also, the project provides the opportunity to employ people who has been disabled during the war, and uses resources in training selected individuals in fish production.
A water-saving system which will protect the environment without slowing down production, will be used in order to meet the requirements of the recently introduced Environmental Protection Laws. These laws require fish producers to minimize the environmental effects of their applied technologies. The use of a water-saving system can serve as an example for the entire region. In addition, the creation of a protective, small-scale wetland which will occupy 1000-1200 m2, will solve the issue of certain fish types’ sensitivity to confinement, as well as the concern for wastewater from the hatchery.
This project will stop the increase of over-harvesting of fisheries in the region, create a sustainable and environmentally friendly fishery system, and will show the value of ecological design in human-made systems and increase their environmental awareness.