Business trip report, Slovakia, Drozd (LIFE Living Rivers)

On August 4-9, 2024, FFPW USB staff (Bořek Drozd, Filip Ložek, Lukáš Veselý, Jan Kubec, Martin Vlk, Marek Let, Ismael Soto, Paride Balzani, Pavel Svoboda, Filip Kupka, Martin Šindler) monitored the species composition of fish communities in the Old Danube and side river system in Slovakia. The activity took place within the integrated LIFE project Living Rivers (101069837/LIFE21-IPE-SK-Living Rivers). The event was also attended by other project partners and representatives of interested groups such as the State Nature Protection of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, the Research Institute of Water Management, WWF Slovakia and the Slovak Angling Union. The survey revealed the current dismal state of the former inland Danube delta, whose ecosystem is gradually degrading (water shortage, poor flow conditions, water overheating, intensive sedimentation) due to the construction and improper management of the operation of the Gabčíkovo barrage system.

Written by: RNDr. Bořek Drozd, Ph.D.