Recent ichthyofauna in the wetlands along the Bulgarian section of the Danube

Abstract

Six wetlands along the Bulgarian Danube stretch were studied in 2009 and 2010. Totally 30 fish species were founded, 10 of them are of conservation significance. The highest species richness was recorded in the Srebarna Lake and the lowest one – in the Garvan marshes. Recently the commercial fishing in the wetlands has lost itseconomical significance because of the dramatic decline of fish stocks and degradation of fish communities. The volume of the permanent water bodies, the flooding regime and the regular connection with the river are the factors determining either the state or succession of the fish communities.

Keywords

• ichthyofauna
• wetlands
• Danube floodplain
• species composition
• conservation
• governance