EUROPEAN EEL (ANGUILLA ANGUILLA) IN LAKE OHRID, NORTH MACEDONIA: CONSERVATION STATUS, CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

The European eel population in Ohrid Lake faced significant challenges starting in the 1970s due to the construction of two hydroelectric plants on the Crn Drim River, "Globocica" (1963) and "Spilje" (1969). The economic impracticality of constructing fish pathways due to considerable height differences rendered the dams’ barriers to the natural migration of eels. Consequently, the solution has been to stock the lake with eels and capture adult eels before they reach the dams. Statistical data indicates a decline in the eel population following the construction of the hydroelectric power plants. For instance, preceding the construction of "Spilje" between 1955 and 1964, the annual eel stock was approximately 9 tons. However, post-construction, from 1985 to 1997, a discernible reduction occurred, with a yearly catch of only 5.5 tons. This downward trend persisted from 2012 to 2019, with a mere 1.8 tons captured annually and no data from 2020-2024, coinciding with diminished and sporadic stocking activities since 2011, observed in 2016 and 2019. Additionally, concerns regarding the eel health status have surfaced, including reports of the parasite Anguillicoloides crassus. Challenges persist with securing funds for eel offspring supply from the government. Furthermore, as a critically endangered species, importing the European eel in North Macedonia, a non-EU member, is very difficult. This complicates the efforts to address the eel’s migration issues in Lake Ohrid. Key strategies to mitigate these challenges include implementing fish lifts, exploring alternative stocking solutions, and addressing administrative barriers hindering conservation efforts.