'King of Lake Ohrid': the fight to save a Balkan trout
Along the picturesque shores of Lake Ohrid, things have taken on a frantic pace at the Lin Hatchery in Albania's Pogradec, as a team of specialists races to release the final batch of newly spawned trout this season.
The hatchery specializes in breeding the "Ohrid Trout"—an indigenous species in the ancient lake that has struggled for years to maintain a healthy population amid habitat destruction, overfishing, and rampant pollution.
Albania and Northern Macedonia, which both border Lake Ohrid, have signed agreements to ensure the trout's survival, as a major uptick in tourism in the area has seen large amounts of development along the banks.
Known as "Koran" in Albania and "Ohridska pastrmka" in North Macedonia, the Ohrid Trout has long been a staple in the lake's crystal-clear waters.
"It doesn't matter what Albanians or Macedonians call it," said fisherman Artan Male.
"They all agree: this fish, which needs neither a passport nor an identity card to cross borders, is known as the King of Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest in the world."
'Any mistake could be fatal'
To maintain the population, Albanian public and private organizations have increased operations at fisheries to produce 1.7 million hatchlings this year alone.
Albania and Northern Macedonia, which both border Lake Ohrid, have signed agreements to ensure the survival of the 'Ohrid Trout' indigenous to the lake.