Progress in the Middle Danube Demonstration Site: Advancing Sustainability and Ecological Restoration

The Middle Danube Demonstration Site is advancing sustainability with a Green Hatchery Initiative and Croatian Waters’ Lorenc side-arm channel restoration. These projects aim to revitalize native fish populations and improve the natural flow of the Danube River.

ŠRU Odra, a non-governmental organization dedicated to sustainable fishery practices and the revitalization of fish fauna, is currently constructing a green and sustainable hatchery for native fish in the Middle Danube Demonstration Site. The hatchery, designed to produce up to 2 tons of fish annually, aims to repopulate the fish population in the Topoljski dunavac, an oxbow lake created approximately 150 years ago when the natural flow of the Danube River was altered. This initiative also focuses on preserving the genetic material of native fish species to ensure future ecosystem stocking.

To date, significant progress has been made, including the acquisition of necessary equipment and the securing of an aquaculture permit. Additionally, a stakeholder workshop was held, bringing together local community members, government representatives, Middle Demo partner organizations, and officials from the European Commission. The local government has pledged full support for the hatchery’s construction and the establishment of an educational centre on fish fauna revitalization. The mobile hatchery unit is set to be installed this summer, with fish farming operations expected to commence by autumn 2024.

In a parallel effort, Croatian Waters (HRVODE) has embarked on a project to restore the Lorenc side-arm channel of the Danube River in Croatia. Following geodetic surveys, geotechnical excavations, and soil analyses conducted by HIDROING Ltd. Osijek, four potential strategies to enhance the connection between the Danube and the Lorenc side-arm channel were identified. The goal of this restoration is to promote a more natural flow regime and improve water inflow to the adjacent wetlands while minimizing material deposition and silting.

These four restoration strategies were evaluated through a qualitative analysis and cost estimation, also considering administrative challenges such as property issues and the proximity to the Croatia-Hungary border. The optimal restoration strategy and the corresponding conceptual design were presented to local stakeholders in the Municipality of Draž by Adria Innovation Harbour and Croatian Waters. The involvement of the local community at the conceptual stage was well-received, marking a shift towards more inclusive and transparent environmental management practices.

These initiatives in the Middle Danube Demonstration Site represent important steps towards sustainable ecological restoration and community engagement, setting a precedent for future projects in the region.