Socio-economic features of commercial fishery in the ... - Springer Link

Environ Monit Assess (2012) 184:2633–2646 DOI 10.1007/s10661-011-2140-5

Socio-economic features of commercial fishery in the bordering upper Danube River area of Serbia Marija Smederevac-Lalić · Radmilo Pešić · Slobodan Cvejić · Predrag Simonović

Received: 15 September 2010 / Accepted: 25 May 2011 / Published online: 15 June 2011 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Abstract The multidisciplinary socio-economic study of fisheries in the bordering part of the Danube River between Serbia and Croatia (at the following sites: Apatin, Baˇcka Palanka, Baˇcko Novo Selo, Bezdan, and Sombor) that was performed in order to investigate various aspects of fish resource utilization (management, policy of protection and exploitation of freshwater fishery resources, present fisheries legislation, catch statistics), was realized during 2004 and 2005. Data were collected via survey with a structured interview. Socio-economic circumstances, together with ecological factors, have had an influence on the fish stock and number of commercial

M. Smederevac-Lalić (B) Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia e-mail: [email protected] R. Pešić Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia S. Cvejić Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, ˇ Cika Ljubina 18-20, Belgrade, Serbia P. Simonović Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, Belgrade, Serbia

fishermen. Awareness of the occurring problems, both economic and ecological ones, is apparent, regardless of whether it is assessed in the field of commercial or recreational fishing. Fishery sector in Serbia is in a prolonged process of transition, with the enforcement of fishing regulations, but also the lack of control that leaves space for illegal commercial fishing. The statements, consciousness, experience and behavior of commercial fishermen represent a good basis for planning the sustainable development of fishing in this section of the Danube River. Keywords Commercial fisheries · Danube River · Serbia · Fisheries resources · Socio-economic circumstances · Administrative framework

Introduction Inland waters fishery is a part of the common and traditional activities of local inhabitants within the broader scope of widespread “living-by-therivers” lifestyle in the Panonian region. Fishing is a common, expected, and inherent activity, even being, for many people, the main life constituent that comprises the associated social relationships ˇ as well (Caldarovi´ c 2006). In rural, poorly developed regions with preserved natural resources and ecosystems, the

2634

maintenance of biodiversity (including species, ecosystems, and gene pools) through the maintenance of balance between economic activities and the environment is essential for the sustainable development of local communities. In addition to the evolutionary and population studies of fish stocks necessary for the establishment of a system of sustainable utilization of fisheries resources, it is also important to have an insight into the related social, economic, and legal matters, in order to establish the appropriate administrative and fishery management, educational, and scientific system, and properly define obligations and rights in the legislation concerned, as well as provide its consequent implementation (Simonović 2005). Matters of inland fishery similar to those considered here have been investigated so far in Portugal (Marta et al. 2001), Finland (Salmi and Muje 2001), Germany (Wedekind et al. 2001), France (Boisneau and Mennesson-Boisneau 2001), and Albania (FAO 2001). It seems that the general trend is that of decrease in commercial fishing coupled with increase in recreational fishing, often followed by conflict between these two kinds of fishermen. Commercial fishing still occurs in certain regions of Central and Western Europe, e.g., on Lake Constance in Germany (Wedekind et al. 2001) and Lake Annecy in France (Gerdeaux and Janjua 2009). In past decades, commercial fishermen have had difficulties adapting to rapid economic, social and structural changes. However, since 1990, they have realized that they need to shift from being mere fish resources exploiters to being environmentally concerned conservationists, in order to maintain the fragile integrity of inland water ecosystems and the healthy fish stocks in them, providing their sustainable utilization on a long-term basis (Holl and Auxiètre 1994). Trainings were recently worked out in France, aiming to help fishermen to alter their common practice, both regarding economic and ecologi˙ cal issues (Sipponen and Greboval 2001). Finally, the awareness of the necessity to preserve inland water commercial fishery as a traditional activity (CBD 1992) is rising in most areas where it was hitherto suppressed. Nevertheless, adverse effects related to fishery occur everywhere, e.g., incomplete reporting of catch causing extensive variation in catch, poach-

Environ Monit Assess (2012) 184:2633–2646

ing and the fish black market, as well as conflict between commercial fishermen and recreational anglers. The mitigation of conflicts between them, and broader restoration of fishery management policy, as well as an introduction of responsible management and marketing strategy should lead to the enforcement of the principles of sustainable development. The socio-economic sector of fishery encompasses the nature of the landscape, the characteristics of the water, the political and administrative system and consumer demands (Wedekind et al. 2001). Welcomme (2001) and Salmi and Muje (2001) stated that efficiency of administrative management in the fishery sector can be raised by co-management and shared responsibility between government, private owners, fishermen, anglers, and other stakeholders. More efficient management can bring benefits to local social and economic circumstances, as well as to the status of inland water ecosystems. For example, in France and Finland, freshwater fishery management is associated with a complex multilevel management system (Boisneau and Mennesson-Boisneau 2001; Salmi and Muje 2001). The aim of this paper is to investigate certain social and economic characteristics of commercial fishery on the Danube River at the boundary section between Croatia and Serbia, addressing the legislative frame they adhere to, catching methods, techniques, and gear, certain economic parameters, as well as problems they face and solutions they propose for solving them.

Study area The bordering part of the Danube River between Serbia and Croatia (Fig. 1) extends from river kilometer 1298 (the town of Baˇcka Palanka) to river kilometer 1433 (the town of Bezdan). This section of the Danube River still features preserved characteristics, with a fast flow, plenty of side arms and other floodplain elements. That provided a basis for declaring protected areas on both the Serbian (Special Reserve of Nature “Gornje Podunavlje”) and Croatian (National Park “Kopaˇcki rit”) sides.


Fig. 1 Study area. Bordering part of the Danube River between Serbia and Croatia with localities where commercial fishermen are situated in their activity: 1. near Bezdan place one fisherman was situated, 2. near Apatin ten fishermen interviewed, 3. near Baˇcko Novo Selo 17 fishermen, 4. near Baˇcka Palanka 12 fishermen situated

Materials and methods Introductory activities comprised field surveys, assessment of literature and other relevant data on the fishing and fishery in the area of concern, including a list of 40 commercial fishermen working there under contracts with the fishery manager of that area. One commercial fisherman was situated in Bezdan, 10 of them were in Apatin, 17 in Baˇcko Novo Selo, and 12 in Baˇcka Palanka. The original questionnaire was prepared by natural and social researchers from Serbia and Croatia involved in the common transboundary fishery project. There were 93 questions in total, organized in sections related to demography (11), way of fishing and tools (19), catch (5), finances (5), perspectives of commercial fishing (4), pollution (2), and prob-

2635

lems and solutions (2). The latest questions were the open ones, while all other questions were closed (Table 1). Acquired records were obtained by extraction of answers from interviewed fishermen and processed using both SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) and Statistica 5 analytical packages. Analyses comprised both multivariate (Correspondent Analysis, CA) and univariate statistics of frequencies. Both approaches delivered almost the same results in grouping and characterizing the investigated fishermen population. However, CA allowed grouping of particular responses within area-related questions and obtaining features representative for the category of investigated objects of interest. The set of characters used in CA was tested for overall heterogeneity regarding the answers and statements in the sample of commercial fishermen using χ 2 test. Afterwards, all variables necessary for the assessment of the social and economic characteristics of a commercial fishery (see aims of investigation given in the previous section of the paper) were tested by age using contingency tables, in order to provide justification for sub-structuring the design of the investigation to cohorts to which commercial fishermen belong.

Results In total, about 40 fish species are considered attractive for fishing in both recreational and commercial fishery, which is about half of all fish species recorded in the Black Sea basin. The majority of first-grade quality fish species (e.g., wells Silurus glanis, zander Sander lucioperca, sterlet Acipenser ruthenus and common carp Cyprinus carpio) are caught by commercial fishermen in July and August. The second-grade quality fish species, in the category of „white fish“(Gibel carp Carassius gibelio, bream species Abramis spp., vimba Vimba vimba, asp Aspius aspius, as well as alien bigheads, gray Arystichthys nobilis and white Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are mainly caught during the winter, in November and December. For the majority of commercial fishermen (47.5%) the main indicator of success in fishing is the share of the most preferred species of fish

1. Paid in fish 2. Paid in money 3. We share 4. Other 5. Without answer

0 < 3077 e 1. 3092–4615 e 2. 4631–6154 e 3. 6169–7692 e 4. > 7692 e 5. without answer

0 < 1538 e 1. 1554–3077 e 2. 3092–4615 e 3. 4631–6154 e 4. 6169–7692 e 5. without answer

1. 25% 2. 25–50% 3. 50–75% 4. 75–100% 5. without answer

1. Without school 2. Elementary school 3. Secondary technical school (3 years) 4. Secondary administrative (4 years) 5. High school 6. University 7. Other

0 < 30 1. 31–40 2. 41–50

4. Other undefined 5. Without answer

5. With friend 6. Other 7. Without answer

1. Gross retailers 2. On their own way 3. Fishmongers

5. Without answer

4. 75–100%

1. 25% 2. 25–50% 3. 50–75%

V73: How sell the catch V77: Money earned from fishing participate in the family budget (%)

4. With family member

1. Alone 2. With occasional assistant 3. With permanent assistant

V19:Fishing companionship

V37: Annual fishing effort in days

0 < 200 1. 201–250 2. 251–300

V7: Age

0 < 30 1. 31–40 2. 41–50

0 < 3077 e 1. 3,092–4,615 e 2. 4,631–6,154 e

V73: How sell the catch V74:Annual turnover 1. Total amount of catch 1. Gross retailers 2. Species in the catch 2. On their own way 3. Size of each fish in the catch 3. Fishmongers

V72: What is successful fishing for you

Figure 4. Variables associated were (V7, V16, V36, V37, V72, V73, V74, V75) after correspondence analyses program selected following variables

3. >50

V11: Education

V7: Age

Figure 3. Variables associated were (V7, V11, V15, V19, V73, V77, VE) after correspondence analyses program selected following variables

1. Alone 2. With occasional assistant 3. With permanent assistant 4. With family member 5. With friend 6. Other 7. Without answer

0 < 1538 e 1. 1,554–3,077 e 2. 3,092–4,615 e

V75:Annual expenditures (e)

4. >4000 e 5. Without answer

3. 3001–4,000 e

0 < 1000 e 1. 1001–2000 e 2. 2001–3000 e

VE: Annual earnings (e)

0 < 1000 e 1. 1001–2000 e 2. 2001–3000 e 3. 3001–4000 e 4. > 4000 e 5. without answer

Figure 2. Variables associated were (V19, V20, V72, V73, V74, V75, V76, V77, VE) after correspondence analyses program selected following variables V19:Fishing companionship V20:Payment of V74:Annual turnover V75:Annual V77: Money earned VE: Annual assistance in the (1e=65 RSD) expenditures (e) from fishing participating earnings (e) fishing activity in the family budget (%)

Table 1 Description of the content of associated variables—questions and answers in each figure after the correspondence analyses selection

2636 Environ Monit Assess (2012) 184:2633–2646

1. One 2. Two 3. Three 4. Four 5. Five 6. Six 7. Seven and over

0 < 30 1. 31–40 2. 41–50 3. >50 1. Alone 2. With occasional assistant 3. With permanent assistant 4. With family member 5. With friend 6. Other 7. Without answer

V19: Fishing companionship 0. Less than 5 HPs 1. 5–9.9 HPs 2. Over 10 HPs 3. Without answer

V26: Power of outboard engine 1. Anchored on his own tie 2. On the rented tie 3. Land near water 4. Dry dock 5. Trailer boarded on his own 6. Pays daily for trailing 7. Other

V32: Where does he place boat

V96: Problems in commercial fishing 1. Restocking 2. Recreational fishermen 3. Lack of control 4. Corruption 5. Legislation 6. License 7. Environment 8. Poaching 9. Else 10. Over-restrictions in fishing 11. Lack of social insurance 12. Collection, marketing and trading 13. Without answer

V7: Age

0 < 30 1. 31–40 2. 41–50 3. >50

Figure 6. Variables associated were (V7, V96, V97) after correspondence analyses program selected same variables

V9: Number of family members

V7: Age

0 < 1000 e 1. 1001–2000 e 2. 2001–3000 e 3. 3001–4000 e 4. > 4000 e 5. Without answer

VE: Annual earnings (e)

1. Restocking 2. Recreational fishermen 3. Lack of control 4. Corruption 5. Legislation 6. License 7. Environment 8. Poaching 9. Else 10. Restrictions in fishing 11. Introduction of social insurance 12. Collection, marketing and trading 13. Without answer

V97: Solutions for solving problems

1. 2 h 2. 2–4 h 3. 4–6 h 4. 6–8 h 5. More then 8 h 6. Without answer

V36: Hours spent daily actively fishing

4. Number of huge specimens 4. Other undefined 3. 6,169–7,692 e 3. 4,631–6,154 e 5. Other 5. Without answer 4. >7,692 e 4. 6,169–7,692 e 6. Without answer 5. Without answer 5. Without answer Figure 5. Variables associated were (V7, V9, V11, V15, V19, V26, V32, V33, V34, V35, V36, V37, VE) after correspondence analyses program selected following variables

3. > 300

3. >50

Environ Monit Assess (2012) 184:2633–2646 2637

2638


Fig. 2 Economic characteristics of all commercial fishermen pooled, regarding their fishing companionship (AL alone, WFM with family member), turnover (TO), earning (E) and expenditures (Exp), all in Ke(thousands of e), participation in family budget (FB) and way of pay for assistance in fishing (PF paid in fish, PM paid monthly) obtained using Correspondence Analysis

from the first-grade quality group in the total catch, whereas for 27.5% of them the total catch is the right indicator of success in fishing. Considering 40 fishermen of all age categories pooled together, two groups of commercial fishermen differentiated according to their answers regarding economic-related questions. The first group comprised fishermen who used to fish either alone or with a family member (27 of 40, i.e., 70%). They used to earn less than e3,000 annually (13 of 27), with a turnover between e3,500 and e6,500 (13 of 27) and expenditures totaling less than e3,500 (17 of 27). Their incomes participated 75% to 100% in the total family budget (16 of 27). The second group of fishermen used to fish with a hired occasional assistant paid either in money, or in part of catch (13 of 40, i.e., 30%). They had an annual income between e3,000 and e4,000 (4 of 13). Their annual turnover was over e6,500 (4 of 13), with expenditures amounting between e3,500 and e6,500 (5 of 13). However, only three of them were in the group of income participating between 50% and 75% in their total family budget, whereas ten others had incomes participating either less than 25%, or more than 75% in the family budget (Fig. 2). CA analysis performed using variables with the answers of the pooled sample of commercial fishermen revealed a significant heterogene-

ity (χ 2 = 1610.80; df = 729; p < 0.001). Variables included into CA analysis that tested for age categories revealed significance for answers that commercial fishermen gave during the assessment (Table 2), which justified cohort-related substructuring of the investigation design, used for the analysis that followed. Two groups of commercial fishermen differed according to their answers related to questions about the economic aspects of their fishing. Considering age, education, fishing company, way of selling and participation of fishing income in the family budget, the group of commercial fishermen age 31–40 and over 50 differed both between themselves and from the rest of the age groups (younger than 30, and between 41 and 50 years

Table 2 The results of statistical evaluations between particular age classes (i.e., cohorts: 1: 50 years) of commercial fishermen from answers they gave for certain variables used in Correspondence Analysis (CA χ 2 value) and presented for each analysis by its figure assignment (df, degrees of freedom; ***, p < 0.001) Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

χ 2 value

df

p
50), education (SAS secondary administrative school, STC secondary technical school, ES elementary school), fishing companionship (AL alone, WO fishing with other, PA permanent assistant, OA

occasional assistant), selling of catch (SGR sell catch by gross retailers, SFM sell catch at fishmongers, SOW sell catch in undefined way) and participation of income in family budget (50–75%, 75–100%) obtained using Correspondence Analysis

2640


Fig. 4 Segregation of commercial fishermen according to their age (< 30, 31–40, 41–50, > 50), annual fishing effort in days (D 200, D 251–300, D300, D 320, D 356), selling of catch (SGR sell catch by gross retailers, SFM sell catch at fishmongers, SOW sell catch in undefined way, SEW sell elsewhere), turnover (TO) and expenditures (Exp), both in Ke(thousands of e) and consideration of fishing success (SC species in catch, TC total catch) obtained using Correspondence Analysis

All three fishermen aged under 30 used to fish alone and docked their fishing boats, equipped with various outboard engines, (landed) on dry soil near the fishing waters. Fishermen aged between 31 and 40 (10 of 40, i.e., 25%) usually have four family members (5 of 10). They fished actively between 4 and 6 h daily (5 of 10) and earned annually e1,000–e2,000 (3 of 10). They used more powerful outboard engines (up to 10 HP) for their fishing boats (4 of 10), which they docked according to the circumstances. Fishermen aged over 40 (27 of 40, i.e., 67.5%) usually have five family members (5 of 27). They fish actively between 6 and 8 h daily (9 of 27). They docked the fishing boat, usually equipped with an outboard engine of 5 HP (19 of 27), and tied near the shore (13 of 27) on the water. Their annual earnings used to be between e1,000 and e3,000 (13 of 27; Fig. 5). The main problems that commercial fishermen identified in the fishery sector were: poaching, inadequate legislation in the field of fishing ban and restrictions regarding the area allowed for fishing, lack of control by fisheries managers and administrative inspection, and the social status they have had recently, and conflict with recreational fishermen, whereas the solutions that they considered the most appropriate were: more ad-

equate control of fishing, change of fishing regulations and social insurance matters (Fig. 6). Problems that fishermen aged 31–40 addressed most frequently were inadequate legislation in the field of fishing ban seasons and other restrictions regarding the area allowed for fishing, as well as their social status, which was a problem also addressed by those aged under 31. Those aged 41–50 identified poaching as the main problem, whereas inadequate legislation in the field of closed seasons and restrictions regarding the area allowed for fishing were also frequently stated. The oldest commercial fishermen, aged over 50, mainly addressed poaching as the greatest problem they see. Solutions of the problems in the commercial fishery sector they suggested were: better control, establishing adequate legislation, stocking, whereas the fight against corruption and improvement in the sector of environmental protection were suggested the least. Regarding the commercial fishermen’s opinions about fishing perspectives, the majority of them planned investments in the next year in amounts around and over e500, as well as to employ an assistant under wage, whereas some of them intended to establish their own fishmonger business and even fish restaurants. Some of them planned to join together into fishing enterprises


2641

Fig. 5 Segregation of commercial fishermen according to their age (< 30, 31–40, 41–50, > 50), daily fishing effort in hours (HD) spent actively fishing, earning (E), in Ke(thousands of e), fishing boat characteristics in HP (horse powers of engine), way of keeping fishing

boat (LNW land near water, AW anchored on water), fishing companionship (FM fishing with family member, AL fishing alone) and familiar status (3FM 3 family members, 4FM 4 family members, 5 FM 5 family members) obtained using correspondence analysis

and some tried to produce fishing tools for sale. However, they were evenly dispersed in considering the future of commercial fishing to be either good, neither good nor bad, or bad. All interviewed commercial fishermen (40) considered commercial fishing important for the local com-

munity. They mainly agreed (31 of 40) about introducing an obligatory examination for gaining the license of commercial fisherman. They considered the number of issued fishing licenses excessive, as well as the price they paid for them, in relation to the amount and kind of catch, which

Fig. 6 Association between age categories of commercial fishermen (1: 50), problems they addressed (P) and solutions they consider appropriate (S) obtained using Correspondence Analysis

2642

they considered too small. In contrast to the overly narrow boundaries where commercial fishing is allowed, they considered satisfactory the variety of legal fishing gear that a licensed commercial fisherman is allowed to use.

Discussion About 20% of recent inland water fish species are already extirpated, or they are considered vulnerable (Welcomme 2001). Effective utilization and conservation of native fish fauna diversity depends on matters of social and economic policy in this field (Anon 2000). According to Simonović (2005), there are 94 species of lamprey and actinopterigian bony fishes in inland waters of Serbia, classified in 60 genera and 22 families. Danube River drainage basin, the largest and the only one where commercial fishing is allowed in Serbia, holds between 75 and 85 fish species. In the 2003–2007 time period, the administrative authorities in charge in Serbia, started for the first time to enforce fisheries management that balanced the pressure on fishery resources from recreational and commercial fishing with annual natural production, in order to maintain the stability and native diversity of fish communities and fish stocks in inland water ecosystems, especially in those remarkable for their unique components regarding any kind of fish diversity (Simonović et al. 2005). That enabled the evaluation of fishery resources in inland waters subject either to commercial, recreational, or both types of fishing, where the already high level of exploitation of these resources and associated activities and effects could increase (Cooke and Cowx 2006). The most abundant fish species were the common bream, common barbel and Gibel carp with 40–70% in catches, with the sterlet (8–10%), zander (3–5%), white and gray bighead carp (up to 4%) being less frequent, being less frequent, and the wells, northern pike and common carp (each with only 1–2%) the least frequent in that group of fish species. The group of “white fish”, regarding weight, participates in catches 31–59% (Maletin et al. 2003). In comparison to Germany


(Wedekind et al. 2001), the study area differed regarding the most abundant fish species occurring in the catch, being in Germany mainly the Coregonus spp. and perch Perca f luviatilis as dominant fish species in catches, with high participation of northern pike and common carp in catches from the lowland lakes and ponds. The similarity between commercial fishermen in these areas is in much smaller interest in catching bream, roach and other hardly marketable fish species. Correspondent analysis was applied in this investigation due to the need for extracting the most prominent features that are interrelated for each category of an objectively small number of commercial fishermen in the investigated area. Their small number is a consequence of a general trend of decrease in commercial fisheries, and therefore, the results of the analysis had to be as informative as possible, containing a minimum of “noise” coming from the rarely occurring facts in this activity. We investigated the status of commercial fishery by using the statements of commercial fishermen about the institutional, i.e. administrative framework of this sector in the recent past. The most prominent educational characteristics of the category of commercial fishermen aged under 30, those with only elementary school education, could be due to the impossibility for them to continue their education in war circumstances that started and lasted for several years to a remarkable extent in the bordering area. Their turning to commercial fishing as a professional activity after the end of wartime events seemed usual to them, considering both tradition and the lack of employment opportunities occurring in the bordering area of investigation. Their solitary fishing with only occasional help from a close family member probably comes from their capability to sustain the job on their own, or from the still persisting need to improve their fishing skills, or to compensate for the lack of it with the more experienced family member. The statements about the incomes and expenditures in fishing they gave seemed realistic and trustworthy, since they looked to compliment their skills and capability to provide a stable existence. However, the participation of their incomes in the budget and only the partial yearly engagement they have in fishing suggest that they either take additional


jobs, or depend partially on their close family members in the financial sense. The highest education level featured commercial fishermen aged between 41 and 50. They stated that they fish throughout the year and spend a lot of time fishing actively every day. They have families, and both modest turnovers and earnings, trying to economize as much as possible (e.g., moderate expenditures for outboard engine maintenance, probably a broad variety of ways to sell their catch, which they always try to maximize), with which they mainly or entirely support their families. It seems they shifted to commercial fishery as an exclusive job because they were forced to provide a means of existence after they lost their previous jobs, when either the war episode or the transitional period started. The most distinctive features of the oldest fishermen aged over 50 were their strong need for the stringent control and improvement of fisheries legislation, as well as of the status of fisheries resources by stocking, improvement in the sector of environmental protection and fighting against corruption. That probably originates from their experience and memories of a period they consider to have been much better, one they remember with regret in the present. Special kind of commercial fishermen that were recognized during the research were those fishing for their own tables, not for marketing of caught fish. Fishing is a survival strategy for them and they fish under a recreational fishing license using commercial fishing tools. Their economic position is an outcome of the general impoverishment of a transitional society. Estimations revealed that up to 50% of licensed recreational fishermen at least occasionally practice that kind of fishing. They are tolerated by the state and mainly by the local community, although part of both commercial and recreational fishermen consider them poachers ˇ (Caldarovi´ c 2006). The division of fishing waters, great number of fishermen and differences in management in particular fishing districts has had an impact on the shape of both commercial and recreational fishery on both sides of the Danube River. The research done in the Gornje Podunavlje area (Upper Danube River Area, in both Serbian and Croatian languages) revealed that the area has

2643

been in a long and decelerated process of transition from state regulated economy of socialism to market economy. This period has been featured by a lack of legislation that should regulate these activities. Problems occurring in the fisheries sector have thus been a part of much broader institutional and legislative problems that persist as resistance to post-socialist transition. Another problem, specific for this area, was armed conflicts through which the former Yugoslavia broke apart (Pešić 2005). As a consequence of delayed transition, control today is weak and the whole sector is strongly susceptible to illegal activities in both fishing and fishery-related economics. For example, poaching, practiced either in the form of fishing without a fishing license, using types of fishing gear that are not allowed, fishing at declared natural spawning sites and other protected areas, as well as landing of fish either during the closed season, or fish that are smaller than the prescribed size limits, appear to be remarkable features of fishery on both the Serbian and Croatian sides of the Danube River. Regarding economics, the comparison of data about profit and catch from Croatian and Serbian commercial fishermen revealed there was a strong effect of “grey economy” that occurs in Serbia, which the official state tolerates, thus enabling high incomes to certain individuals from either illegal import, or landing of and trading in fish. The annual catch of fish from the Danube River in Croatia amounts to an average of 8,638 kg, which brings an income of ˇ e34,560, which is e2,880 per month (Caldarovi´ c 2006). Assuming that the annual catch of fish by each fisherman should be similar in Serbia, the average incomes of Serbian commercial fishermen appeared to be much smaller, about e160 monthly and about e2,000 annually, according to their own statements, which is unfeasible, taking into account that there is no great difference in prices of fish between Croatia and Serbia. In addition to the regulatory measures related to the control of catch and landing of fish, the solution to the problems should also contain measures that would enable the economic support and better organizing of catching and trading activities. Contemporary solutions in countries which have completed that process (Gaudet 1977a, b; Leopold 1977; Norling 1977; Tuomi 1977a, b; Cowx 1996;

2644

Marta et al. 2001; Boisneau and MennessonBoisneau 2001; Löffler 1991; Gerdeaux 1991; Dekker 1991; Wedekind et al. 2001; Cooke and Cowx 2006; Raymakers 2002) recommended the reorganization of the fisheries sector and fisheries management rights shifted from large state-owned enterprises and organizations to entrepreneurs and small private enterprises. For Serbia, turning to such management practice would be, in fact, a return to the organization in the fisheries sector that was in force in mid-twentieth century (Anonymous 1938). The recently stated most prominent problems in fishery on both the Croatian and Serbian sides of the Upper Danube River bordering area, e.g.: the lack of an appropriate strategy and policy of fishery, inadequacy of management and control in fishery, low level and accuracy of data on resources, lack of fishery statistics, landing records and their analysis, illegal fishing activities and decrease in water quality by polluˇ tion (Caldarovi´ c 2005; Lenhardt et al. 2006), corresponded well to responses from the commercial fishermen in our study. Like in Serbia, the tradition of fishing occurs among local inhabitants in the bordering region along the Danube River of Croatia, as well. The only prominent difference between the Croatian and Serbian states regarding commercial fishery is the number of legally licensed commercial fishermen, being much greater on the Serbian side of the Danube River, with a consequently greater pressure on the fish resource occurring from there. Freshwater commercial fishing in Croatia has almost vanished, persisting only in a limited number of commercial fishermen in this bordering area. Nevertheless, the fishing tradition occurring there has remained preserved and turned to an increased number of recreational fishermen, i.e., anglers, which is concordant to other European regions, where an increase in recreational fishing is followed by a greater social and economic impact of that group of fishermen both at the local and national level, mainly through the expected development of tourism and related activities (Šprem et al. 2006). As a consequence, recreational fishermen recently started to participate a great deal in shaping the fishery sector by promoting their needs and wishes through their social and even political impacts (Ditton et al.


2002). That might threaten and suppress the traditional commercial fishery on the large Panonian Rivers such as the Danube, Sava, Tisza, Drava and other rivers where that activity has been inherited through the centuries.

Conclusion Recognizing that biological, social, and economic components of the fisheries impact it a great deal, it was apparent that more wealthy commercial fishermen fished with hired assistant, as opposite to those with lesser incomes who fished alone or with the family member. The most numerous age category of commercial fishermen was that of age 41–50 and the pattern of their socio-economic characteristics was very variable, which provided them coverage of family budget over 75% coming from the annual turnover up to e4,000 and annual earning up to e3,000, due to their pretty low expenditures, since they adapted well to the fishing circumstances, invest more fishing effort and fish mainly alone. In contrast to them, both 31–40 and over 50 age categories fishermen covered their family budget up to 50%, with their annual earning between e1,000 and e2,000. that they invest less effort in fishing and fish with assistant. Acknowledgements This study represents a part of activities within the Project No. 173045 and Project No. 173025, both funded by Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia.

References Anon (2000). Biodiversity conservation information system. In Busby, J. R. (Ed.), Framework for information sharing: Principles (p. 32) (Series Editor). Anonymous (1938). Zakon o slatkovodnom ribarstvu sa Uredbom o ribolovu i rakolovu i Pravilnikom o radu savetodavnih odbora [Act on Inland Waters Fishery with the Order on Fishing and Crayfishing and Decree on Work of Advisory Boards]. Izdavaˇcko i knjižarsko preduzeće, “Geca Kon” A.D., Beograd 29, 1–112 (in Serbian). Boisneau, P., & Mennesson-Boisneau, C. (2001). Inland commercial fisheries management in France. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 8, 303–310. ˇ Caldarovi´ c, O. (2005). Sociological analysis of major socioeconomic factors of freshwater f ishing along bordering rivers Sava and Danube—As a part of the project

Environ Monit Assess (2012) 184:2633–2646 “Management of Freshwater Fisheries on Bordering Rivers—A Pilot Study with a Holistic Regional Approach”. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Sociology. Zagreb. ˇ Caldarovi´ c, O. (2006). Znaˇcaj temeljnih socioloških cˇ imbenika za gospodarenje u slatkovodnom ribarstvu. IV nacionalno znanstveno—struˇcno savjetovanje s meąunarodnim sudjelovanjem. 8–9. lipanj. 2006. Osjek: Poljoprivredni fakultet, pp. 59–66. CBD (1992). Eighth meeting of the conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity. Curitiba Brazil. http://www.cbd.int/convention/ convention.shtml. 20–31 March 2006. Cooke, S. J., & Cowx, I. G. (2006). Contrasting recreational and commercial fishing: Searching for common issues to promote unified conservation of fisheries resources and aquatic environments. Biological conservation, 128, 93–108. Cowx, I. G. (1996). Managing recreational f isheries in multiple aquatic resource user situations. European inland f isheries advisory commission (Vol. 32, pp. 5–10). Report of the workshop on recreational fishery planning and management strategies in Central and Eastern Europe, Rome 1996. EIFAC/OP. Dekker, W. (1991). Assessment of the historical downfall of the IJsselmeer f isheries using anonymous inquiries for ef fort data (pp. 233–240). Catch Effort Sampling Strategies their application in freshwater fisheries management. Fishing News Books. Ditton, R. B., Aas, O., & Radonski, G. C. (2002). A constituency perspective on maintaining biodiversity and ecosystems-based f ishery management. EIFAC/XXII/ 2002/Symp. E 32. FAO (2001). Socio-economic aspects of the Adriatic Sea f isheries. Report of the AdriaMed Meeting on Socio-Economic Aspects of the Adriatic Sea Fishery Sector. AdriaMed. Technical Documents No. 5. Termoli (Italy) October 2001. GCP/RER/010/ITA/TD05 Campobasso Italy. http://www.faoadriamed.org/ html/asp/AvdocKeys.asp. 28–29 May 2001. Gaudet, J.-L. (1977a). Economic issues and opportunities facing Europe in the f ield of sport f isheries (Vol. 26, pp. 29–46). Economic evaluation of sport and commercial fisheries Report and technical papers of Second European Consultation (Sweden), Rome 1977. EIFAC Technical Paper No. 26, Document Technique de la CECPI N. Gaudet, J.-L. (1977b). Economic issues and opportunities facing Africa in the f ield of sport f isheries (Vol. 26, pp. 177–186). Economic evaluation of sport and commercial fisheries Report and technical papers of Second European Consultation (Sweden), Rome 1977. EIFAC Technical Paper No. 26, Document Technique de la CECPI N. Gerdeaux, D. (1991). Study of the daily catch statistics for the professional and recreational fisheries on lakes Geneva and Annecy. Catch Effort Sampling Strategies their application in freshwater fisheries management. Fishing News Books, 118–126. Gerdeaux, D., & Janjua, M. Y. (2009). Contribution of obligatory and voluntary fisheries statistics to the

2645 knowledge of whitefish population in Lake Annecy (France). Fisheries Research, 96, 6–10. Holl, M., & Auxiètre, J. P. (1994). Pêche professionnelle fluviale. Evaluation du projet d’ enterprise (pp. 256). Paris: Coll.Mise au point. Conseil Supérieur de la Pêche ed. Lenhardt, M., Hegediš, A., Cvejić, S., Cvijanović, G., & Smederevac, M. (2006). Diversity and status of fish stock in special reserve of nature ‘Gornje Podunavlje’. Ecologica, 13(12), 21–25. Leopold, M. (1977). Current problems of recreational f ishery in Poland—Links with commercial f ishery (Vol. 26, pp. 46–63). Economic evaluation of sport and commercial fisheries Report and technical papers of Second European Consultation (Sweden), Rome 1977. EIFAC Technical Paper No. 26. Document Technique de la CECPI N. Löffler, H. (1991). The recreational fishery in Lake Constance (Bodensee), catch effort sampling strategies their application in freshwater fisheries management. Fishing News Books, 108–117. ´ c, A. (2003). Srednjoroˇcni Maletin, S., Matić, A., & Ciri´ program razvoja ribarstva za deo ribolovnog podruˇcja Dunav II (1366–1297 km) za period 2003– 2007. godine. JP Vojvodinašume Petrovaradin, Šumsko gazdinstvo Novi Sad, 1–39. Marta, P., Bochechas, J., & Collares-Pereira, M. J. (2001). Importance of recreational fisheries in the Guadiana River Basin in Portugal. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 8, 345–354. Norling, I. (1977). Sport f ishing in Sweden—A summary of general statistics, socio-economic studies and some selected problems (Vol. 26, pp. 73–83). Economic evaluation of sport and commercial fisheries Report and technical papers of Second European Consultation (Sweden), Rome 1977. EIFAC Technical Paper No. 26, Document Technique de la CECPI N. Pešić, R. (2005). Finansiranje zaštite životne sredine: uloga ekonomskih instrumenata u Srbiji. Poglavlje u monografiji Evropeizacija instituicija: zaštita životne sredine u Grˇckoj i Srbiji, priredio Jovan Teokarević, Beogradski centar za evropske integracije, Beograd, 2005. str. 191—215. http://www.nomosphysis.org.gr// Raymakers, C. (2002). Study on the social and economic aspects of illegal f ishing in the Caspian. TRAFFIC Europe, Brussels. Salmi, P., & Muje, K. (2001). Local owner-based management of Finnish lake fisheries: Social dimensions and power relations. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 8, 437–444. Simonović, P. (2005). Sustainable development and f ish stocks. Textbook on Environment and sustainable development. Environmental management Module. Belgrade: Centre of Multidisciplinary Studies. ˇ Nikolić, V., & Marić, S. (2005). Simonović, P., Mijović, C., Pregled održivog ribarstvenog koriš´zenja ribljeg fonda Srbije. Univerzitet u Beogradu Biološki fakultet. Conference proceeding Enviroment for Europe—Životna sredina ka Evropi. Beograd. ˙ Sipponen, M., & Greboval, D. (2001). Social, economic and cultural perspectives of European inland fisheries: Re-

2646 view of the EIFAC symposium of fisheries and society 2001. Blackwell. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 8, 283–293. Šprem, N., Piria, M., Safner, R., Treer, T., Aniˇcić, I., & Tomljanović, T. (2006). Sportsko-rekreacijski ribolov na graniˇcnom podruˇcju rjeka Save i Dunava. IV nacionalno znanstveno—struˇcno savjetovanje s meąunarodnim sudjelovanjem, 8–9. lipanj. 2006. Osjek: Poljoprivredni fakultet, 55–58. Tuomi, A. L. W. (1977a). Fisheries management goals, problems and options (Vol. 26, pp. 115–129). Economic evaluation of sport and commercial fisheries. Report and technical papers of Second European Consultation (Sweden), Rome 1977. EIFAC Technical Paper No. 26, Document Technique de la CECPI N.

Environ Monit Assess (2012) 184:2633–2646 Tuomi, A. L. W. (1977b). Status of the international exchange of information on sport f isheries management and development (Vol. 26, pp. 129–134). Economic evaluation of sport and commercial fisheries Report and technical papers of Second European Consultation (Sweden), Rome 1977. EIFAC Technical Paper No. 26, Document Technique de la CECPI N. Wedekind, H., Hilge, V., & Steffens, W. (2001). Present status, and social and economic significance of inland fisheries in Germany. 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 8, 405– 414. Welcomme, R. L. (2001). Inland f isheries: Ecology and management. Published for FAO by Blackwell Science. Fishing News Books, 358.