Lake Ohrid stocked with 100,000 young trout

One hundred thousand young Ohrid trout were released into the lake today. The fish have an average weight of 4.2 grams, and their release marks the completion of this year’s restocking, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Borçe Serafimovski announced during a visit to the Hydrobiological Institute in Ohrid.

Serafimovski said efforts to restore the Ohrid trout population are producing more than satisfactory results. In August and September, the lake’s fishing areas were stocked with a total of 6.5 tonnes of young farm-raised fish, 1.6 tonnes more than the 4.9 tonnes initially planned.

Another 100,000 larger trout, bred last year and weighing an average of 16 grams, have also been released into the lake this year. According to the minister, this helps make up for the lack of restocking from 2019 to 2023, when artificial breeding of Ohrid trout was suspended.

To continue efforts to restore the population, an agreement has been signed with the Hydrobiological Institute for the next cycle of artificial breeding and lake restocking, which will take place in 2027. The plan calls for the release of 1,550,000 young Ohrid trout.

The Hydrobiological Institute will carry out the activities and monitor their results, with institutional support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy.