The state of cyprinid fish farms in serbia in the period from ۲۰۱۷ to ۲۰۲۱

Pond fisheries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have traditionally been dominated by cyprinid culture, mainly of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and the so-called - silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix V.), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis R.), and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella V.), frequently reared in polyculture with minor additions of non-cyprinid fish. According to this, Serbia is not an exception, as (based on the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia) there is ۶.۳۰۵ ha of water surface of fish farms in Serbia, with ۹۹,۹۰% of carp farms and ۰,۰۱% of trout farms. It is important to notice that the great majority of cyprinid fish farms are located in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (۹۷%), a region in North Serbia. All three production systems are present: extensive, semi-intensive and, intensive. Extensive production is sporadic and is present only at a few carp production units, mainly not economical for semi-intensive production due to remoteness from other production units or neglect. The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia estimates that the consumption is around ۵ kg per capita, while some authors estimate that the consumption is around ۷ kg per capita. The area under carp ponds has slightly decreased in Serbia during the last five years. The carp production was organized on a total area of ۷.۱۱۷ ha in ۲۰۱۷, which is approximately ۱۲% bigger than the utilized area in ۲۰۲۱ (۶.۲۹۹ ha), while the ۲۰۱۷-۲۰۲۱ average was ۶۵۱۶,۶ ha (Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia). The average annual production of fish in cyprinid ponds in Serbia for ۲۰۱۷- ۲۰۲۱ was ۴۹۶۰,۴±۶۲۸,۶۰ t (Statistical Office of Serbia). Cyprinid fish production in fishponds in Serbia was ۴.۷۶۱ t - in ۲۰۲۰, while the lowest amount reported in ۲۰۱۷ was ۴.۱۴۸ t and, the highest was ۵.۷۴۵ t in ۲۰۲۱. Based on our investigation, there were ۶۵ cyprinid fish farms in Serbia. It is interesting to notice an apparent significant fluctuation in the price of live fish (on the Fish farm) as a wholesale. Because during the “COVID” time in ۲۰۲۰ and the complete “lockdown” in the country, the price has dropped dramatically to (only) ۱, ۵ EUR, in comparison with the current price (۲۰۲۲) of ۵ EUR. After comparing other authors’ findings and our study, it is obvious that there is a high potential for improving cyprinid fish production in Serbia. Primarily related to the planning documents in Serbia since there is a lack of state strategy for the development of aquaculture production generally particularly the cyprinid fish species.

Keywords:

Cprinid fish , farm , Serbia