| Conservation |
A paper on the status of freshwater fishes in the Adriatic catchment of Slovenia was published in 1995 (Povz, 1995). A red list of fishes in Slovenia was published in 1992 (Povz, 1992).
The major threats to Slovenian fishes come from pollution, water regulation and the impacts of introduced species. A small part of the Adriatic basin is occupied by a tributary, the Notranjska Reka. The ichthyofauna of this river has been destroyed by pollution and water regulation. Smaller streams are devoid of fish. Larger streams nearby, such as the Klivnik and the Molja, are regulated and have been converted to reservoirs. In these, the remaining icthyofauna no longer bears any Adriatic characteristics. The Rizana River is badly polluted for at least half of its 20 km length while most of the Dragonja River dries up during the summer months (Povz, 1994). The ichthyofauna of the Soca has remained diverse, resulting, to some extent, from the species transferred from the neighbouring Danube River basin or introduced from other parts of the world. The ichthyofauna of the streams of Notranjsko and the tributaries of Pirano Bay have been badly damaged or even eliminated in some places. In the Slovenian part of the Soca River basin, fish introductions and translocations have had a devestating impact on endemic species. There has been intensive competition between native and introduced species. Also, extensive genetic pollution has resulted in the case of the marble trout which cross-breeds with brown trout, producing fertile hybrids. In the case of nase, the consequence has been its extinction .
Immediate steps should be taken to conclude relevant international agreements to control introductions and translocations of fish species. It is also crucial to make sport fishermen aware of the importance of maintaining biodiversity within fish communities and that this is an important part of an overall objective of attaining long-term sustainability of freshwater fisheries.
Contact: Meta Povz, Fisheries Reserch Institute, Zupanciceva 9, 61000 Ljubljana, SLOVENIA. |
| Geography and Climate |
Climatic conditions in Slovenia are influenced by the nearness of the Adriatic Sea, Alps, Pannonian Lowland and extremely varied terrain. The Primorje coastal region is influenced by the Mediterranean climate, so the oscillations in temperature are small, winters are mild, and the rainfall is highest in October and November. Towards the Pomurje region, continental influences are prelevant, with great temperature oscillations, severe winters, hot summers and low precipitation rate (highest in June). Mean yearly temperatures in Primorje exceed 12°C, while in the Alps they don't reach 0°C.
Ref. Mrsic, N., 1997 |
| Hydrography |
Though small (20,000 km2), Slovenia is traversed by rivers of two large European catchments, the larger Danube and smaller Adriatic basins. The main part of the Adriatic basin is drained by the River Soca and its tributaries. A lesser part is taken up by the River Nadiza and the smaller Rivers Notranjska Reka, Klivnik, Badasevica, Rizana, Dragonja and some brooks (the Strunjanski potok, the Koperski potok, etc.) which drain into the Adriatic Sea in Slovensko Primorje. The River Soca is 136 km in length, 94 km of which occurs in Slovenia. It has been included by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Soca is one of the purest rivers in Slovenia. |