Mezinárodní spolupráce

On 27.-30.5. 2024 FROV JU staff T. Randák, P. Lepič, and M. Šindler visited long-term monitored sites in the Belá river basin in Slovakia as part of the LIFE "Living Rivers" project. Several coordination meetings occurred with subjects and colleagues involved in the project solution during the visit. Issues of removing or rebuilding migration barriers on the stream were discussed, current fisheries management was consulted, and autumn activities related to the continuation of the project were planned. There was also a visit to selected stream localities connected with recapturing fish tagged last year.

Through the Erasmus+ mobility funding program, I engaged in several training activities at Aquaforum, School of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences at Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland, and at Aquaforum's partners in Switzerland.

I participated in gene expression analysis procedures for fish. I enhanced my fish and shrimp farming expertise within land-based aquaculture facilities in Switzerland, including Swiss Lachs AG in Lostallo, LocalFish AG in Rafz, and SwissShrimp GmbH in Rheinfelden. Additionally, I expanded my knowledge of insect farming for animal feed at Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology in Dübendorf, and of fish trials at the experimental fish facility at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL in Frick.

On 21 May 2024 we participated in the first Workshop within the new bilateral project BYCZ-SPF00088 Fish Welfare Education - Přenos znalostí a inovace v rybářských vědních oborech, which is supported by the Small Projects Fund of the Interreg Bayern-Czech Republic programme. The programme of the workshop was focused on the anaesthesia of salmonids (BY partner) and the use of fish body photography for fish quality assessment (CZ partner). The introductory theoretical part was followed by a practical demonstration of both discussed activities.

Ing. Ján Regenda, Ph.D., MSc. Niksirat Hashjin Hamid, Ph.D., MSc. Thora Lieke, Dr. rer. nat.

On 20 – 24 May 2024 I visited the São Paulo State University (UNESP), as part of the ERASMUS+ mobility and with support from the University of South Bohemia. I met staff from three Faculties (the coordinators of international relations) and a colleague from the University Department of International Relations. We exchanged experience and good practice, I was shown around the faculties, and we also discussed possible contracts between our faculties or between universities.

As a employee of the University of South Bohemia’s part of the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, Ismael Soto had the privilege of attending and presenting at the International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species (ICAIS) from May 12 – 16, 2024 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This conference represents a cornerstone for global dialogue on the ecological, social, and economic impacts of aquatic invasive species. My participation was represented on two main topics.

- The Faunal Ponto-Caspianization of Western European Waterways: I delved into the spread of Ponto-Caspian species into Western European waterways. I discussed the vectors of this invasion, its ecological ramifications, and the necessary strategies for management and mitigation.

- DOSI Schema: Taming the Terminological Tempest: My second topic addressed the often-overlooked issue of inconsistent terminology in our field. The DOSI schema, a framework proposes a standardized terminological approach to enhance clarity and facilitate better communication among researchers and policymakers.

Through the Erasmus+ mobility funding program, I participated in a visit to the University of Jyväskylä from May 6^th to 10^th, 2024. My primary objective was to enhance my knowledge of stable isotope analysis. Additionally, I had productive discussions with colleagues regarding compound-specific isotope analysis.

Hung Quang Tran

From May 12 to 14, the IPSW 2024 (14^th International Passive Sampling Symphosium and Workshop) took place in Limoges, France. It was attended by members of the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Biochemistry, Pavla Fialová and Roman Grabic, who presented three lectures. The aim of the conference was to bring together scientists to share their knowledge about the use of passive sampling approaches in wide application range from fundamental research to regulatory monitoring.

For the second year, the field trip with students was organised to visit sites with a strikingly high diversity of non-native species in Hungary, especially in the thermal water localities. We started our excursion visiting the biological station on the shore of Lake Neusidler in the town of Illmitz (Austria), where Gilbert Hafner gave us an engaging presentation of the history of the Lake and, on a short walk around the biological station showed the local phenomenon of salt marshes, once again hosting a high diversity of wetland and water birds, as well as specific invertebrate fauna.

We had the opportunity to explore the outflows of Lake Héviz, the largest thermal lake in Europe, the Városliget park in the Budapest centre, a thermal tributary of the Barát brook, sites rich for non-native organisms, but also Kis-Balaton artificial wetland constructed to protect Lake Balaton from high nutrient loads. At these locations, students could practically try catching crayfish, fish and macrozoobenthos and thus practically see a very rich community of African and South American cichlids, a syntopic population of spiny cheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus) and red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), marbled crayfish (P. virginalis) and red cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi), very popular with aquarists, and many other non-native species including young false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica), but also critically endangered European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis).

As a new part of the excursion, we visited the Asian market, literally a source of many non-native species. Indeed, besides "traditional releases" of aquarium species to the wild, we are also newly encountering organisms originally intended for human consumption – especially crabs. In order not to leave empty-handed, we purchased North American blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) imported from Greece, where they are an invasive species, for tasting purposes. Recently, there have also been recordings of their presence in the Danube in Budapest. The blue crabs were a reward after a long day of (cray)fishing when the students enjoyed their cooking and tasting. Another newly visited site was the Limnological Station on the shores of Lake Balaton in the town of Tihány. Here, Péter Takács, Blanka Gál, and Bálint Preiszner presented their activities and took us to a unique system of tanks for mesocosm experiments on the shore of the lake.  During the field trip, we were accompanied by our Hungarian colleagues. Special thanks go especially to András Weiperth and Árpád Ferincz.

Author of text and photos: Martin Bláha

I visited the office of the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the FAO and WFP in Rome as part of the Erasmus+ mobility program from 10th June to 14^thJune, 2024. I had the opportunity to participate in the 175^th Session of the FAO Council. It was very interesting and rewarding for me to be present at an international meeting focused on resolving global crises and humanitarian aid, particularly in the context of food security.

On 31^st May 2024, we travelled with our colleagues Dr. Vojtěch Kašpar and Dr. Martin Hubálek to Bezirk Niederbayern, Fischereilicher Lehr- und Beispielsbetrieb Lindbergmühle in the frame of our joint project Šumava Fish Jewels, BYCZ01-020. The purpose of the trip was to have a working meeting with the owners and managers of the waters where the sampling of brown trout is to take place this year on the Bavarian side of Šumava, including waters managed by the Bayerischer Wald National Park and the Bezirk Niederbayern Fisheries Administration. The introduction by Dr. Stephan Paintner from the Bezirk Niederbayern fisheries management  was followed by a presentation by Dr. Blabolil and his team from the Institute of Hydrobiology, Czech Acad. Sci. explaining the reasons for the project, the status of the brown trout populations in Šumava, the first results of the monitoring of the populations on the Czech side of Šumava and the sampling plans on the Bavarian side. The lecture by Prof. Flajshans, Dr. Kašpar and Dr. Hubálek presented the main mission of the Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Quantitative Genetics of the FROV JU, aspects of the living gene bank of Czech brown trout populations within the National Programme for the Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources, the progress of analyses of tissue samples of trout populations on the Czech side of Šumava, including the expected further development of sample processing and data analysis. Lectures were followed by a fairly extensive discussion. Finally, Dr. Paintner again summarized the main points for Bavarian fisheries managers and owners, including the necessary aspects imposed by Bavarian legislation.

Written by: Martin Flajšhans

The 22^nd Fish Immunology and Vaccination Workshop, hosted at Wageningen University, Netherland was a resounding success. Organized by esteemed professors Geert Wiegertjes and Maria Forlenza, the workshop featured a series of insightful lectures from leading experts, an engaging poster session, and hands-on practical sessions. As an attendee, I had the privilege of delving into the latest advancements in fish immunology, gaining invaluable knowledge and practical skills that are crucial for my research. The workshop not only provided a platform for learning from the best in the field but also fostered vibrant discussions and networking opportunities with fellow researchers and professionals. This enriching experience has significantly contributed to my professional growth and research endeavors in aquatic science, particularly fish immunology, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of such a prestigious event. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the faculty for their generous financial support, which made my participation in this prestigious event possible.

On June 27-28, 2024, we participated in the 14th BioDetectors international conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which was focused on the application of bioanalytical methods. We presented the results of our ongoing research through oral presentations. Our presented research was focused on monitoring in vitro biological activities in aquatic environments, identifying their sources and the substances responsible for them, and comparing these activities on human and fish receptors. Additionally, our trip included discussions about current and future collaborations with researchers from BioDetection Systems, b.v. (Netherlands) regarding in vitro biotests. We would like to thank the GAČR projects (20-04676X and 22-19136S), which enabled us to attend this conference.

Written by: Pavel Šauer a Beatrice Kyei Amankwah

In the framework of AQUAEXCEL3.0 technician transnational mobility exchange program, I undertook training activities at SINTEF facilities (Trondheim, Norway),  from May 27^th to June 2^nd, 2024. I participated in planning of working week performed by technical SINTEF team. I actively engaged in sensors installation and maintenance, data transfer and storage in the sea cages monitoring conditions. For the data processing and design of imaging devices it is very useful to know the conditions of sensors placement and operation on the monitoring site. The gained knowledge will be used in the implementation of the faculty projects for welfare monitoring analysis.

European catfish as (not only) a Portuguese problem

On 01-06-06 we visited Instituto Politéctico de Santarém in Portugal to expand the possibilities of cooperation, the main objective of which is to help our colleagues from southwestern Europe with the problem of eradication of the large catfish (Silurus glanis). This species, which is not native to Portugal, is the top freshwater predator in this country and has completely taken over its natural habitat in some parts of Portugal, causing considerable disturbance to native species.

Portugal, as the country with the highest fish consumption in the EU, has little experience of processing and distributing it, mainly because people avoid it and there is no demand for it on the market. There is thus no real economic motivation for more massive catches, which can only be carried out by licensed companies. They are mainly confronted with the problem of humane killing and refrigeration in a combination that would ensure the preservation of the high quality of the muscle, which has a significantly lower fat content than in the Czech Republic.

In addition to a visit to an educational facility focused on invasive fish species and the promotion of a stable ecosystem (https://www.fozdozezere.pt/index.php?sec=part4), we had the opportunity to have a professional discussion with the manager of one of the sections of a large national system for the intake and distribution of sea fish (https://www.docapesca.pt/), and with whom we agreed on further cooperation, especially in the possibilities of transferring their very sophisticated system of recording and quality control to the conditions of Czech Republic.

Another very interesting benefit was the 2-day company of Robert Hughes (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert-Hughes-34), an excellent expert on fish ecosystems, with whom we discussed the comparison of US and European conditions and the link between fish consumption and freshwater aquaculture.

The greatest source of interesting information, however, were our colleagues from Escola Superior Agrária (part of IPS) who gave us a detailed presentation on both the legislative and practical parts of the issue and the steps they have taken towards the desired changes. We are still processing all the experiences and outputs from this trip and discussing further possibilities of cooperation on the topic with our colleagues from Institute of Hydrobiology in České Budějovice.

This business trip was supported by the Erasmus+ programme.

On April 7^th – 11^th, 2024, FFPW USB staff (Bořek Drozd, Jan Kubec, Lukáš Veselý, Filip Ložek, Martin Vlk) carried out the next phase of installing telemetry gates to monitor the movement of rheophilic fish species in the Slovak part of the Danube in the project area of the LIFE Living Rivers project (101069837/LIFE21-IPE-SK-Living Rivers).Furthermore, the activity of incubating sterlet eggs in incubators put directly into the Danube, which is also part of the LIFE project, was started.

RNDr. Bořek Drozd, Ph.D.

On April 15^th – 21^st, 2024, FFPW USB staff (Bořek Drozd, Jan Kubec, Lukáš Veselý, Filip Ložek, Martin Vlk) completed the installation of telemetric gates and began a telemetric study focused on monitoring the movement of rheophilic fish species in the Slovak part of the Danube in the project area of the project LIFE Living Rivers (101069837/LIFE21-IPE-SK-Living Rivers). Furthermore, the activity of incubating sterlet eggs in incubators put directly into the Danube, which is also part of this LIFE project, was completed.

RNDr. Bořek Drozd, Ph.D.

On May 16, 2024, FFPW USB staff (Bořek Drozd, Filip Ložek) took part in the working meeting "From Iron Gates to Gabčíkovo Water Structure", hosted by the Water Management Research Institute (Bratislava, Slovakia). In a total of 10 presentations accompanied by a rich plenary discussion, the international team (WWF, ICPDR, BOKU, DSTF, etc.) discussed the current process of making the Danube passable for fish at the Iron Gate and proposals and strategies for making the Gabčíkovo, Čunovo and Dunakiliti dams passable for fish migration as part of the LIFE Living Rivers project (101069837/LIFE21-IPE-SK-Living Rivers). B. Drozd presented the scope of activities and the current results of the USB on the Danube within the framework of this project, especially with regard to the flagship fish group of the Danube - sturgeons.

RNDr. Bořek Drozd, Ph.D.

On June 25, 2024 FFPW USB staff (Bořek Drozd, Miloš Buřič, Filip Ložek, Tomáš Randák, Pavel Lepič) participated in the 2nd IP LIFE Living Rivers project meeting (101069837/LIFE21-IPE-SK-Living Rivers), which was held at the Water Management Research Institute (Bratislava, Slovakia). The event was attended by representatives from all institutions, ongoing project activities, their progress and results during the project implementation period were presented.Afterwards, the 1st meeting of the Steering Committee of the project followed, where the members of the committee and their deputies were introduced, progress in the project solution was presented, and key topics for the future of the project were discussed.

Written by: RNDr. Bořek Drozd, Ph.D.

I am proud to highlight my participation in a 5-day intensive training under the supervision of Prof. Carolina Tafalla at the BSL3 Animal Health Research Center (CISA), Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (INIA), Spanish Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid, Spain. The training encompassed key techniques including lymphocyte isolation from rainbow trout tissues, cell cultivation in L15 medium, specific phagocytosis assays, lymphocyte labeling with antibodies (anti-CD8, anti-MCH II, and anti-IgM), and flow cytometry analysis. This enriching experience has significantly enhanced my expertise in fish immunology, contributing to the faculty’s ongoing commitment to advanced research and professional development.I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for generous financial support for this advanced training provided by an Erasmus training scholarship for employees, facilitated by the University of South Bohemia.

On July 14 - 21, 2024, we attended the international bioinformatics conference IWBBIO 2024 organized at Gran Canaria by the University of Granada, Spain. Traditionally, dr. Urban led the section Intelligent systems and Machine Learning in Bioinformatics. We presented a lecture and a poster from the research activity and discussed with the other participants.