Photo: Rita Newman
Ausseerland Seesaiblinge
Record number: 13
Disclosure Date
1280 first mention of fishery in the “Gesamturbar” of Archduke Albrecht.
Photo: BM...
Ausseerland Seesaiblinge
(Ausseerland chars)
Abstract or claim
Chars are fish native in alpine lakes located in the Aussee region, Styria.
Sustainable management of the char populations and traditional lake fishery in line with nature.
Ausseerland chars are characterized by their light-pink meat which is a result of the uptake of the lakes’ specific plankton. Traditional is the smoking of fish over open fire made from beech wood.
Name of product, product class
Char, fishes
Name of region
Ausseerland, Styria, Austria
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
Name(s) of information provider
Fishery cooperation in Altaussee
Names of applicant for title
----
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
Lake fisheries at the lakes Altausseersee and Grundlsee
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
----
Descriptors
- History:
The history of fishing is as old as that of mankind. This is proved by the finding of fish bones together with bones of prehistoric human beings.
As early as in the younger Stone Age and in the Bronze Age our predecessors caught chars with nets.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
In medieval times professional fishery flourished and net fishing was already highly developed. Chars were highly appreciated fish, which resulted in the stocking of chars into a variety of waters as early as in the Middle Ages. They were even introduced into lakes located in high mountain areas which are ice-free just for 4 - 5 months. Despite these harsh conditions char populations have survived there over centuries.
In medieval times living the fishes were transported in wooden barrels to the Court in Graz.
In the 16th century Ausseerland chars were delivered to the Viennese Court. Due to the long distances they were often transported in roasted, smoked form or pickled in vinegar.
Traditional full-time lake-fishing with nets has survived in the lakes of the Salzkammergut over centuries. Fishermen use traditional flat-bottomed boats (“Plätte”). Fishing rights for the lake Altausseersee have always been in private hands, while those for the Grundlsee were exercised by the sovereignty and nowadays by the Austrian Federal Forests.
- Region:
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
It encompasses the municipalities Bad Aussee, Altaussee and Grundlsee. In a broader sense, it covers also the municipalites Pichl-Kainisch, Tauplitz and Bad Mitterndorf.
The landscape is characterized by the impressive mountain Loser (1838 m) and crystal-clear lakes (Altausseer See, Grundlsee, Toplitzsee, Kammersee, Vorderer Lahngangsee, Hinterer Lahngangsee and other, smaller high-alpine lakes).
Climate:
The climate is alpine with short summers and long winters.
Precipitation is high, the average annual temperature is 7 °C.
Habitat:
Chars are native in the lakes Altausseersee (214 ha, 712 m ASL = above sea level), Grundlsee (425 ha, 708 m ASL), Toplitzsee (50 ha, 718 m ASL), and Kammersee (0.1 ha; 719 m ASL).
In addition, chars stunted due to the shortage of feedingstuff occur in nearby high-alpine lakes, such as Vorderer Lahngangsee (1494 m ASL) and Hinterer Lahngangsee (1622 m ASL) and small lakes in the mountain range Totes Gebirge (Death Mountains). However, in the 1950s chars from the Lahngangsee were used for broadening the genetic basis of the native chars in the Grundlsee.
All lakes are characterized by excellent drinking water quality, which favours chars as they are very demanding as to water quality. They need clear, cold water rich in oxygen and like to stay in deep water zones. Chars are one of the best adapted fish concerning deep temperatures as they may be active even near the freezing point.
However, they are very sensitive to higher temperatures.
Temperatures of 12 °C are lethal for spawns and 21 – 22 °C for adult fish.
About a decade ago the number of chars in the lakes dropped drastically. This was due to both the introduction of perches and their rapid reproduction and an overpopulation of pikes. In order to recover the lakes’ balance, several methods were applied. The spawn of perches was removed by using twigs of spruces as traps and, moreover, pikes were selectively caught. In addition, the catching of chars was drastically reduced.
- Ausserland chars:
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Chars are widely distributed in cold and deep lakes of Northern Europe as a result of the Ice Ages. Chars can be found on the British Isles, in Scandinavia, Iceland, Russia, and in alpine regions up to an altitude of 2000 m. Chars feed on larvae, mussels and small fish like the Common Minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus). Stunted chars feed mainly on plankton.
Chars are well adapted to the harsh conditions, such as the freezing up of the lakes for several months.
The traditional lake fisheries are known for working in line with nature and their sustainable management of the fish population.
Reproduction:
Reproduction occurs under natural conditions. Two reproduction types are to be distinguished: “Uferlaicher” (spawning occurs near the banks from September to January) and “Grundlaicher” (spawning occurs on the stony bottom of the lakes in 20 – 80 m depth in summer from July to August).
Additionally, the Austrian Federal Forests operate breeding houses where chars are exclusively raised for the stocking of lakes outside the Ausseerland region.
The feeding of fish in natural lakes is legally prohibited. Likewise the fertilization of lakes in order to increase the amount of plankton is banned.
Fishing:
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
During fishing season, chars are caught daily and are sold as fresh fish.
Fresh chars are only seasonally available from May to September due to the limits set by the natural environment. The closed season extends from 16 September to 15 March.
Slaughtering and processing:
Immediately after catching the fish are slaughtered. Then they are chilled on ice and sold directly to fish processing companies.
Flesh and taste:
Ausseerland chars are known for their slight-pink flesh which is due to the local plankton of the lakes. The reputation of the chars’ taste can be traced back until the Middle Ages. At that time chars were reserved to the nobility.
Water Quality control:
The Styrian Provincial Government controls the limnological conditions of big Styrian lakes in spring and summer. They are classified as oligotrophic.
- Marketing:
Ausseerland chars are marketed directly or offered in the regional gastronomy.
The Austrian Federal Forests sell chars under the trade mark “WILDFANG-Naturfisch”, which guarantees premium wild fish from Salzkammergut lakes which are caught with nets and manually processed.
Connection with the geographical area and Traditional Knowledge
- The lakes in the alpine region of Aussee have clear, cold water rich in oxygen
and provide optimal living conditions for chars.
- Strong link with the area: Charsnaturally spawn in the lakes and exclusively
feed on organisms occurring in the lakes.
- The flesh has a unique light-pink colour which is in direct relation to the specific
plankton taken up.
- Traditional fishing with nets by using traditional flat-bodied boats (“Plätten”).
- The production of Ausseerland Seesaibling is the result of TraditionalKnowledge
passed on from generation to generation over centuries: Traditional Knowledge
and expertise of lake fishing with nets (know-how of fishermen, slaughtering and
transport), know-how of slaughtering, know-how of smoking fish over fire from
beech wood.
- Utilization:
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Local restaurants, including so-called Salzkammergut fish restaurants, offer chars in various delicious dishes.
- Protection:
-
Key words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Styria, region, Ausseerland, fish, char, charfish, Salvelinus alpinus, Ausseerland chars, Ausseerland Seesaibling
Bibliography/ References
- Beiträge zur Geschichte des Fischereiwesens in der Steiermark von Julius Wallner, 1911
- 1. Steirischer Seenbericht
http://www.umwelt.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/10879992_6392227/85e0e480/Steirischer%20Seenbericht_.pdf - Altausseer See
http://www.bad-mitterndorf.at/Altausseer-See.72.0.html
- Altausseer See
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altausseer_See
- Ausseerland - Salzkammergut – Orte/Städte
http://www.tiscover.at/at/guide/5,de,SCH1/objectId,RGN220381at,folder,CITY,season,at2,selectedEntry,city/city.html - Ausseerland
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ausseerland
- Ausseer Land
http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.a/a920227.htm;internal&action=_setlanguage.action?LANGUAGE=de
- Ausserland Seesaibling
http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/11291
- Ausseerland Seesaibling
http://www.mpc1.at/download/Einladung_Steiermark.pdf
- Der Seesaibling: Fisch des Jahres 2005
http://www.sab.at/fisch2005.htm
- Eins, zwei, Grillerei (Genuss.Spezialitäten.Pur II/08)
http://www.genuss-magazin.eu/index.php?id=2500%2C1218792%2C%2C
- Ein echtes Erlebnis: Fischen im Ausseerland – Salzkammergut
http://www.salzkammergut.at/e/4-01-6-1180593/detail/salzkammergut.html
- Es muss doch nicht immer Saibling sein – oder doch?
http://www.wasserland.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/10046052_1356921/74576644/Teiche%20und%20Seen-Netz%202006.pdf - Feines aus dem 10. Bundesland
http://www.steiermark.com/de/page.asp?id=2850
- Ferienregion Ausseerland: Wandern in der Ferienregion Ausseerland
http://www.wandern.com/region/ausseerland
- Gelebte Tradition
http://www.wn-online.at/pdf/1217405660.pdf
- Grundlsee
http://www.bad-mitterndorf.at/Grundlsee.75.0.html
- Grundlsee (See)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grundlsee_(See)
- Grundlseer See- und Saiblingsfest
http://www.kleinezeitung.at/freizeit/events/db/showEvent_Detail?id=103965
- Grundlsee: Mit Harpunen auch Hechtjagd
http://tauchen.nullzeit.at/Content.Node/news/2008/04/grundlsee--harpunieren-hecht.php
- JOSEF PRÖLL: Genuss Region Österreich stärkt Landwirtschaft und Tourismus
in der Steiermark
http://minister.lebensministerium.at/
- Klima:
http://www.austria.info/xxl/_site/ch/_area/414354/_subArea/414369/_subArea2/659951/index.html - Kammersee
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kammersee_(Steiermark)
- Klimawandel und Fische
http://www.accc.at/seen.htm
- Lahngangsee
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahngangsee
- Matthias Pointinger ÖFB Fischzucht
http://www.meisterstrasse.eu/fischzucht-pointinger/product/id150
- Naturraum und Umwelt in: Lokale Entwicklungsstrategie für die
LEADER-Periode 2007 – 2013 für die Region “Ausseerland Salzkammergut“
http://www.raumplanung.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/10745298_1115050/6cba5d43/REP%202007-2013%20Ausseerland%20Salzkammergut.pdf - Region Ausseerland
http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/11322
- Saiblingsfest am 26. Juli im Ausseerland
http://www.echtsteirisch.or.at/cms/cms.php?pageName=5
- Saiblingsfest im Ausseerland am 26.07.08
http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/21053
- Saiblinge
http://books.google.at/books?id=_3qNbZeXMW4C&pg=PA1619&lpg=PA1619&dq=seesaibling+fetts%C3%A4uren&source=web&ots=CdqCssghjT&sig=F2-0PzXVa5kicBKcXzUgzMzmCwk&hl=de&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result
- Saibling
http://www.deutschesee.de/lexikon/fishlexicon_detail.jsp?state=FishLexicon&fishLexiconID=183
- Seesaibling
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seesaibling
- Seesaibling, Saibling, Rötel, zool.: Salvenius alpinus salvenius; en.: lake trout
http://www.lebensmittellexikon.de/s0000670.php
- Spezialitäten aus der Steiermark II.
http://www.win.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/10193316_10343237/46782b39/Spezialitaeten%20II.pdf - Toplitzsee
http://www.de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toplitzsee
- Toplitzsee und – Bach in Grundlsee/Gößl
http://www.bad-mitterndorf.at/Toplitzsee-und-Bach-in.70.0.html
- Trophiesystem
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligotroph
- Wildfang Naturfisch
http://www.wildfang-naturfisch.at/
All internet references last accessed on 2 June 2009.
Language code
German
Product of www.genuss-region.at
yes
Regional contact
Fischereivereinigung Seefischerei Altaussee
Karin Pürcher
Tel.: 0043 3622/71884
Authors: Mag. Doris Reinthaler, Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
24.11.2010, Lebensministerium III/4