The extensive river network of the Balkan Region in Southeastern Europe is the “blue heart” of the continent - a hotspot of freshwater biodiversity with a large number of endemic species (IUCN 2020). Many of these streams and small rivers remain wild and untouched by humans, which is a rarity on this densely populated continent. The Prespa Trout was discovered only in four Balkan streams in Northern Macedonia and Greece. It belongs to the large family of fish commonly referred to as salmon. Like their popular, distant relatives, the Atlantic and Pacific Salmon species, it migrates upstream for spawning. However, “their ocean” is the Great Prespa Lake, where they spend their summers before starting the tiring journey into higher elevations (Berrebi et al. 2013). But swimming against the current is not the only factor which makes their travels very difficult. Like in many places of the world, the construction of hydropower plants creates impassable barriers for the Prespa Trout. In addition, unsustainable water extraction and pollution put their survival at risk (IUCN 2006). 

In 2020, the Balkan Foundation for Sustainable Development (BFSD) received a grant for developing a Conservation Action Plan for Prespa Trout. Actors from the local Pelister National Park, state agencies, local communities, NGOs and also hydropower plant operators will be brought together to jointly protect the Prespa Trouts and support the beat of Europe’s blue heart (BFSD).  

Write up by Charlotte Walter

BFSD, https://balkansfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BFSD_TOR_Trout%20Expert_PONT-CEPF.pdf
Berrebi et al. 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3876056/
IUCN 2006, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61231/12451866
IUCN 2020, https://www.iucn.org/news/species-survival-commission/202009/freshwater-conservationists-worldwide-implore-federation-bosnia-and-herzegovina-permanently-protect-europes-last-wild-rivers