KRCIN, Czech Republic — Czechs will have to pay more for their traditional Christmas delicacy this year after a serious drought devastated the carp population this year.
The drought overheated and dried out ponds, sucking oxygen from them and drastically reducing numbers of the fish in most parts of the Czech Republic.
But the situation was different in the southern Bohemia region near the border with Austria, which is considered a carp haven. The region also suffered from the drought, but a network of about 500 carp ponds interconnected with man-made canals ensured adequate living conditions for the fish.
As fishermen start the practice of catching carp for Christmas markets, here’s a look at the annual tradition and the effects the drought.
Carp being sold this year at Christmas markets will be more expensive, by up to 10 koruna ($0.44) per kilogram.
“A lack of water in the ponds was a key factor this autumn for the (increased) price,” said Josef Malecha, chief executive of Trebon Fisheries, a major fresh water fish producer in the country and the European Union.
The company estimates its fish production this year will be similar to previous years, about 3,527 tons.
Carp account for more than 90 percent of the catch. The rest include pike, catfish, pike perch, amur and tench. They are exported to many European countries.
The drought affected the ability of the fish to gain weight, Malecha said.
“So, we had to fix it by using more food (grain),” he said. “And the food was more expensive because the farmers suffered from the drought as well.”
