Ecological Sustainability of Fish Resources of Inland Waters of the Western Balkans

lt;p>Prof. Dr. Vladica Simic, is a full professor at the Department of Biology and Ecology of the Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac. He has dedicated his scientific career to studying the biodiversity of freshwater macroinvertebrates and fish. In addition to taxonomy, he mainly researched the bioindicator properties of animal taxa to assess the ecological status of inland waters. He developed a method for assessing water quality and ecological status of inland waters: the Balkan Biotic Index (BNBI) and a model for assessing the sustainability and priority of conserving inland water biodiversity ES-HIPPO, as well as its modifications ES-HIPPOfish (commercial fish species) and ES- HIPPOcrayfish (for crayfish).

He published a total of 275 works, 70 of which are from the SCI list, and founded the Laboratory for Hydroecology and Water Protection, which includes the Freshwater Aquarium, which is not only a scientific organization, but also has educational significance (the first Public Aquarium in Serbia). In 2014, the Laboratory and the Aquarium became a special organizational unit of the Faculty: Center for Fisheries and Conservation of Inland Water Biodiversity, managed by Dr. V. Simic. Dr. Vladica Simic is the author of the database Biodiversity of Inland Waters of Serbia, conservation in ex-situ conditions "BAES ex-situ". http://baes.pmf.kg.ac.rs.  The database is the result of a project entitled: "Ex-situ conservation of inland water biodiversity in Serbia" led by Dr. Vladica Simic (grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of Serbia, 2002-2007). The database has been regularly updated since 2007. He has participated in many national (grant projects 43002, 173025, 143023, 20107) and international EU projects (FP7 GLOBAQUA - 603629-ENV-2013-6.2, FP6 ALARM-50602, AQUAGAMETE COST Action- Food and Agriculture, COST Action FA 1205). He was the project manager (Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway, SRB-15/0009) which enables the establishment of the first laboratory for cryopreservation of fish sperm in Serbia. Dr. Vladica Simic was involved in the Joint Danube Research (JDS2 and JDS3). He has been delegated as a key fish expert for the EU NATURA 2000 project for Bulgaria.

He is the author of more than 60 Fisheries Management Programs in Serbia. Dr. Vladica Simic was an active member of the working group of the Ministry of Environmental Protection for the adoption of the Law on Protection and Sustainable Use of Fish Stock ("Official Gazette of RS" No. 184/16 and 95/18). He is the author of 2 books, the editor of a monograph on the Danube and the author of several chapters in monographs published by Springer. he is a participant in scientific expeditions to explore the Danube, Sava and Adige rivers in Italy. and lake Ohrid, Prespa, Dojran and Balaton.

Prof. Dr. Snezana Simic, is a full professor at the Department of Biology and Ecology of the Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac.  She is engaged in scientific research in the field of hydrobiology with a special aspect related to algae and other hydrobionts and their importance in the monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, as well as the possibilities of their conservation. Most of the scientific research are in the field of conservation of biodiversity of rare and endangered taxa of benthic macroalgae, especially freshwater Rhodophyta and Phaeophyceae. Part of her research is focused on the phytoplankton Cyanobacteria, with particular aspect on invasive and potentially toxic cyanobacteria. She has published the results of her scientific work in 200 bibliographic units (36 scientific papers in international journals - SCI list). Dr. Snezana Simic is the author of two university books. She is editor is of a monograph on the Danube (The Danube of Serbia), the author of several chapters in national monographs and also author of monograph published by Springer (The Sava River).

She is coauthor of da

Part I. Fish Resources and Fishing Areas of the Western Balkans.- Chapter 1. Fish Resources of Inland Waters and Fisheries in Slovenia, Management, Sustainability and Conservation.- Chapter 2. Inland Fisheries in Croatia: Historical Aspects, Fish Resources, Management and Conservation.- Chapter 3. Fish Resources and Fisheries in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Overview, Sustainability, and Conservation.- Chapter 4. Inland Fisheries in Serbia: Historical Aspect, Fish Resources, Management and Conservation.- Chapter 5. The Freshwater Fish Resources and Freshwater Fisheries of Montenegro, Management, Sustainability and Conservation - With a Special Perspective on Lake Skadar.- Chapter 6. Fish and Fisheries of the Republic of North Macedonia, Current Situation and Its Perspective.- Chapter 7. Fish Resources of Inland Waters and Fisheries in Albania, Management, Sustainability and Conservation.- Part II. Some Fish Species of the Western Balkans Important for Fisheries and Conservation.- Chapter 8. Freshwater Crayfish of Western Balkan: Is It Possible to Use Them Sustainably or Do They Need Prompt Conservation Actions?.- Chapter 9. Salmonid Fish Species - Opportunities for Sustainable Use under Multiple Pressures and Current Climatic Change.- Chapter 10. Past and Future of Sturgeon Species (Acipenseridae) in Western Balkans - Case for Permanent Conservation or Sustainable Management.- Part III. Effects of Stressors on Inland Water Ecosystems and Fish Resources.- Chapter 11. Eutrophication of Fishing Waters and the Influence of Cyanobacterial Occurrence and Blooming on Fish Resources - Case Studies in Serbia.- Chapter 12. Pollution of Fishing Waters of the Western Balkan - Potentially Toxic Elements and Their Impact on the Ecological Sustainability of Fish Resources.- Chapter 13. Invasive Macroinvertebrate and Fish Species and Their Impact on Fish Resources: A Case Study on Fishing Waters of Serbia.- Part IV. Fish Stock Assessment Methods.- Chapter14. A Brief Overview of the Development of the ES-HIPPO Model for Assessing the Sustainability and Conservation Priorities of Fish, Fish Resources, and Inland Water Habitats.- Part V. Conservation and Aquaculture.- Chapter 15. he Role and Importance of Aquaculture for the Ecological Sustainability of Fish Resources in the Inland Water of Serbia.- Chapter 16. Huchen Hucho hucho (Linnaeus, 1758) in Croatia: Distribution, Genetic Diversity, Threats and Conservation.- Chapter 17. Future Perspective of Sustainable Development of Freshwater Fisheries and Conservation of Threatened Fish Species, Crustaceans and Molluscs.- Part VI. Social Aspect.- Chapter 18. Political and Socio-Economic aspects of Fisheries in Inland and Coastal Waters of the Western Balkan.- Chapter 19. Fish Resources of the Western Balkans, Sustainable Use and/or Conservation?.