Presentation of the project – “Inventory of the ichthyofauna in the Buna River”

The Youth Club Novi Val announces the project “Inventory of the ichthyofauna in the Buna River,” aimed at assessing the status of fish populations.

This project seeks to impact the protection of ichthyofauna in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a special focus on the soft-mouthed trout – Salmothymus obtusirostris oxyrhynchus (Haeckel, 1852), which is found in the Buna River and is classified as critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List.

The soft-mouthed trout is currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is an endemic species in the Buna River and a typical representative of the Salmonidae family.

The soft-mouthed trout inhabits areas characterized by cold, clear, oxygen-rich waters with minimal temperature variations. Due to illegal fishing, as well as abiotic and biotic factors, this species has become endangered.

In ecology, the best method for species conservation is ex-situ protection, which this project aims to establish. This approach involves preserving living organisms outside their ecological niche, thereby protecting the species from predators and environmental pressures.

In addition to inventorying fish species in the Buna River, the project includes workshops with representatives from local institutions, relevant ministries, local communities, fishing associations, fly fishing associations, and other civil society organizations. These workshops aim to establish a coordination body for the conservation of the Buna River and the project’s implementation. There will also be workshops for elementary schools in the Mostar area aimed at introducing children to ecological topics and raising awareness about nature protection.

The inventory of fish in the Buna River will be carried out by biologists from the University of “Džemal Bijedić” in Mostar, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanel Riđanović and M.Sc. Emina Lulić, across a total of 12 locations along the Buna River.

The project is part of a multi-year campaign for the protection of rivers in Southeast Europe. The campaign was initiated by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, in collaboration with local partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Through joint efforts, they aim to highlight and protect the unique riverine wealth of our region, the importance of which transcends national borders. By protecting these resources, new development opportunities are created, ensuring long-term benefits for people and nature