Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Steirisches Teichland- Karpfen
Record Number: 76
Disclosure Date
Carp farming in Styria can be traced back to the Middle Ages when monasteries started constructing ponds.
Photo: BM...
Steirisches Teichland- Karpfen
(Styrian Teichland carps)
Abstract or claim
Traditional carp farming and traditional carp harvesting in semi-natural ponds in the region of Steirisches Teichland, Southern Styria.
The firm flesh, excellent taste and outstanding culinary reputation of Steirisches Teichland carps are the result of fish farming in harmony with nature in clear, unpolluted water of natural and artificial fish ponds. The carps feed on the natural food sources generated by the pond and are given only limited amounts of supplementary feed from regional cereals and legumes. This, together with the slow growth under rough climate conditions, contributes essentially to the excellent taste of the flesh.
Carp ponds also serve as retention ponds and as habitats for rare plants and animals, and contribute to the sustainable preservation of the regional landscape.
Name of product, Product class
Carp, fish
Name of region
Styrian Teichland, Southern Styria, Styria, Austria
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
Name of information provider
Teichwirteverband Steiermark (Styrian Fish Farmers’ Association)
Marie-Theres Holler
Name of applicant for title
---
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
Steirischer Teichwirteverband (Styrian Fish Farmers’ Association) with about 50 fish producers
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
Descriptors
- History:
Carp farming in ponds is one of the oldest methods of fish production. The original habitat of carps is probably Asia Minor and it is assumed that carps invaded Central Europe via the Black Sea and the Danube. Up to the Middle Ages lakes and rivers were their natural habitats. After that, in connection with the spread of Christianity, carp farming in ponds proliferated strongly.
During Lent monastery kitchens favoured carps. This was also due to the fact that the clergy was entitled to fishing (ectotherms), but not to hunting (endotherms). As Christmas Eve was a day of fasting as well, where the consumption of meat was not permitted, carps became part of the traditional Christmas dinner in Central and Eastern Europe. Also on New Year’s Eve and Ash Wednesday carps are frequently served as a traditional dish.
For inns and taverns carps played an important role as Lenten food because up to the mid-18th century on Lenten days meat from warm-blooded animals was allowed to be served only to military officers, non-Catholics and Catholics exempted from Lenten, and even in those cases this was not permitted in the general dining room but only in the innkeeper’s private rooms and, later, in a separate room or at least on a separate table.
The eating of carp on the traditional date of Christ’s Birth has also theological roots: In the past there was the misbelief that carps are asexual and emanate directly from the bottom of waters. They were therefore a particularly well suited dish metaphorical of the Virgin Birth of Jesus.
Moreover, it was thought that the carp’s cranium contained the instruments of Christ’s torture and that the bones could be assembled to a birdlike figure resembling the Holy Spirit which would protect against witches. Another superstition was that a moonlike little stone existed above the carp’s eye and would bring good fortune to who found it at Christmas.
Another old custom is that carrying the scale of a carp would bring financial godsend in the new year. It can be assumed that this custom is related to the coin-like shape of carp scales.
Since the 10th century a large part of today’s “Steirisches Teichland”, mainly around Deutschlandsberg and Leibnitz, belonged to the Archbishops of Salzburg. Hundreds of ponds were constructed to increase fish production in order to satisfy own needs and needs for fish as Lenten and festivity food.
Even in our times the term “(Teich-) Mönch” (literally: pond monk) reminds us of the importance of Christianity to pond fishing: It is a sophisticated wateroutlet device to gradually regulate the water level of ponds.
While in medieval times ponds mainly belonged to monasteries, a large number of ponds got under secular powers from 1782 onwards, after the suppression of monasteries by Emperor Joseph II.
The land cadastre of Joseph II records only secular ponds, while the Franciscan land cadastre includes peasant ponds in addition. However, in the 19th and 20th century many ponds were shut down and turned into grassland or arable land.
As early as in the late 19th century carp farming was described scientifically and the fist standard works on carp pond management were published.
At that time the market in Vienna became important and living carps, tenches and pikes were transported to Vienna by railway.
For transport purposes oval barrels containing between 500 and 1.000 litres of water (so-called “Lagln”) were used. The movement of the train triggered the rocking of the oval barrels and the splashing water became enriched with oxygen, which was essential for the fish to survive.
During train stops an accompanying pond farmer had to jump from barrel to barrel to rock them again.
In 1951 the “Teichwirtegenossenschaft Steiermark” (Styrian Fish Farmers’ Cooperative) was founded. In 1979 the cooperative was reorganized and renamed as “Teichwirteverband Steiermark” (Association of Pond Farmers Styria).
In 2002 the project “integration of pond farming-tourism-economy” was presented to the public.
In 2003 the LEADER project “Netzwerk Teichwirtschaft” (network pond management) was established with the aim of promoting carp farming in ponds.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
The region “Steirisches Teichland” is located in the south of Styria and is subdivided into three main areas: - the region around the “Schilcherland” (district
Deutschlandsberg) and the “Sausaler
Weinstraße” (district Leibnitz);
- the hilly country southeast of Styria from
the Graz basin to Radkersburg;
- the region between Pöllau valley and Lafnitz
valley (district Hartberg).
Most of the ponds are located in the municipality Unterbergla, district Deutschlandsberg.
The regions are characterized by rather flat, elongated hollows which are well suited for the construction of dams.
It is characteristic that ponds often are in series in the valleys.
Climatic and soil conditions:
The region “Steirisches Teichland” is characterized by mild, sub-Illyrian lowland climate with warm summers and an annual precipitation of 800-1000 mm.
The average temperature in July is 18°C to 19°C. The particularly mild climate favours the rapid growth of fish.
The soils of the region are particularly rich in nutrients; they are clayey and thus not permeable to water.
Habitat:
In Austria, carps are raised in ponds covering about 2.900 hectares, about 1.000 hectares thereof (34,5%) in Styria. About 400 hectares are located in the political district of Deutschlandsberg.
Pond sizes range from up to 0.5 ha (44%), 0.51-1 ha (14%), 1.01-2 ha (21%), 2.01-10 ha (16%) to more than 10 ha (5%).
The average depth of ponds is 80 - 150 cm, depending on the regional terrain.
The ponds are located at altitudes between 200 (Radkersburg) and 350 m (parts of Western Styria).
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
The ponds harbour numerous water plants, like reeds, sedges, amphibious bistort (Persicaria amphibia), various pond weeds (Potamogeton sp.) etc.
In order to regulate undesirable water plants Grass Carps (White Amur, Ctenopharyngodon idella) are kept in the ponds.
The phytoplankton contains green algae, Diatomea, the zooplankton Daphniidae, copepods, chironomids, larvae of dayflies, Caddisflies, and small-sized worms.
Pond management:
After carp harvesting in autumn, the ponds remain dry and are stocked again until March/April.
Ponds are limed three to four times per year in order to improve water quality and optimise carbon dioxide content. Burnt lime (Calcium oxide, CaO) is permitted for ponds conventionally managed, while slaked lime (Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 ) or Calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) has to be used for ponds managed under the organic scheme.
Ponds are mostly not fertilized as they are only extensively operated. Nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) are washed in from surrounding agricultural areas anyway. However, in principle, mineral fertilizers may be added to conventional ponds.
Under the organic scheme it is allowed to introduce into ponds up to 25 kg N/ha of organic material (manure, green grass and the like) to regulate plankton growth.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
The Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae.
Carps prefer slow-running or stagnant water which does not have to be particularly clear or rich in oxygen. Carps grow best at water temperatures between 20 °C and 25 °C when the potential for feed uptake is optimal.
Carps remain in deeper areas of the ponds during daytime and are active at twilight. During the long, harsh winter period the carps rest at the deepest spots of the ponds, where they neither eat nor grow.
Method of productions:
Steirisches Teichland-Karpfen are born, raised, slaughtered, and processed exclusively in the region of Steirisches Teichland.
Carps are kept appropriate to the needs of the species. The number of carps per pond is limited such that every carp has about 20 m² of living space.
Mirror carp, linear mirror carp, leather carp, and fully scaled carp are farmed in the Styrian pond-land region “Steirisches Teichland”. However, the production of mirror carps prevails.
About 50 professional fish farmers produce carps, three of them according to the requirements of the organic scheme. The annual yield is about 450 tons.
Mating and reproduction:
Carps are sexually mature at the age of 3-4 years. Carps do their “mating dance” between end-May and early June, depending on the necessary water temperature of 18 to 20°C.
Depending on size and age a female carp releases about 1.5 million eggs, which are fertilized in the water. The fertilized pale-yellow eggs become attached to submerged weeds, grasses or other substrate.
Spawning and hatching occurs under natural conditions in the ponds and artificially in fish breeding devices.
In ponds managed according to the organic scheme spawning and hatching are exclusively under natural conditions.
Usually hatching occurs after three to five days, depending on the water temperature. The hatchlings have yolk sacs for several days. Before the yolk sac is used up, the fries inflate their swim bladders with air. After that, the fries feed on microplankton and algae.
Fish breeding:
Fish for stocking stem predominantly from the region, partly carps are bought in from other regions.
In spring the ponds are stocked with 600 two-summer carps and 1.500 one-summer carps per hectare.
It takes 1 - 2 summer periods until the carps have reached 2 – 2.5 kg (two-summer carps) and are ready for consumption.
Carp is farmed isolated or in polyculture together with tenches, pirkperches, pikes, perches, and rudds.
Feeding:
Carps are omnivorous and feed mainly on living organisms of the ponds. As the stocking rate is low, only a limited amount of supplementary feed, which contains cereals (rye, barley, wheat) and legumes (peas), is required.
Under the organic scheme supplementary feedingstuff must not contain fish meal or industrial feedingstuff. It is prohibited to use proteins of animal origin, antibiotic, growth promoting, synthetic additives, or conventional mixed provender. If feedingstuff of organic origin is demonstrably not available, up to 10% may by substituted by conventional feedingstuff to raise the protein content.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Fish are perennially harvested, there is no close season.
For the purpose of counting stocking fishes the fish are harvested in autumn in a way known for centuries. First most of the water is drained off the fish ponds. Then fishermen, often breast-deep in the chilly water, round up the fish with handnets near the pond bank. Finally, the fish are got out of the water with scoops. People refer to the phenomenon of splashing water caused by the vast number of fish rounded up as “The pond boils”.
Transport and slaughtering:
The bigger part of the carps is transported to trading partners as living fish.
The remaining carps are slaughtered in slaughterhouses which have to comply with the legal requirements of hygiene.
After slaughtering the exsanguinous carps are immediately submersed in ice water (less than 4°C), then disembowelled as quickly as possible and chilled to 2-3°C.
Processing and packaging:
Carps are graded according to size and variety and then packed under strict hygienic and temperature provisions.
Flesh and taste:
The flesh of Steirisches Teichland-Karpfen is white to delicate pink. It is firm and at the same time tender, has an excellent taste and a special flavour.
Nutrition:
The flesh of carps is rich in valuable protein, neutral regarding cholesterol, and has a favourable fatty acid composition.
Quality control:
Fish farmers have to take records in a “Teichbuch” (“pond book”), notably regarding fish stock (origin, amount of fish, weight), feed (origin, amount, nature), amount of fish caught and date of fishing,
use of fertilizers and chemicals, date of liming and amount of medication used, periods of drying out ponds and stocking etc.
The health of the carps is controlled twice a year by the Veterinary University of Vienna.
The quality of the water is controlled regularly by the fish farmers.
- Marketing:
Carps are either marketed as fish for consumption or as stock fish for other ponds.
Steirisches Teichland carps are sold directly, in wholesale and retail trade, and in gastronomy.
Connection with the geographical area and Traditional Knowledge
- Specific soil and climate, water and landscape conditions in the region of “Steirisches
Teichland” provide optimal conditions for rearing carps.
- Strong link with the area: Steirisches Teichland carps are born and bred exclusively in
the region and live predominantly on organisms naturally occurring in the ponds.
- Due to breeding close to nature carps can be produced with specific characteristics. The
flesh has unique flavour and taste which are directly related to the feed taken up.
- The extensive, ecologically orientated breeding of carps contributes to the preservation of
an intact natural landscape of the region.
- The production of Steirisches Teichland carp is the result of Traditional Knowledge passed
on from generation to generation: The Traditional Knowledge and expertise of carp breeders
(adapting the management of carps to environmental constraints, know-how of breeders,
genetic improvement), fishermen (traditional method of catching, storage and transport),
the slaughtering industry (cutting, method of cutting fish bones to extremely small pieces),
and processors.
- Utilization:
Carps are utilized in a whole variety of ways some of which have been known for generations: smoked, pickled, roasted, poached, au bleu, as pâtés or fish soups etc.
Fried carps are a traditional Christmas Eve dinner in Austria and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
- Protection:
-
Key Words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Styria, region, Steirisches Teichland, fish, Steirisches Teichland carp, Steirischer Teichland Karpfen, Cyprinus carpio
Bibliography / References
- BAUER CH. Radiotelemetrische Untersuchungen am Zuchtkarpfen Cyprinus carpio carpio
morpha domestica, während der Winterung unter Berücksichtigung der Bewegungsaktivität
der besenderten Karpfen, der biotelemetrischen Methode sowie deren Auswirkungen auf die
Versuchsfische. Dissertation, Wien, 2002.
http://www.cyprinus.at/daten/Dissertation.pdf
- Bezirkskammer Deutschlandberg
http://www.lk-online.at/
- Die Karpfenteichwirtschaft in der Steiermark
http://www.uni-graz.at/geowww/geo/geoweb_magazin_artikel_detail_druckversion.php?recordID=76
- Fischerei und Teichwirtschaft in der Steiermark 2004/2005
http://www.agrar.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/10549208_12664619/894e79c6/10_kap_3.3.pdf
- FISCHFAUNA IN ÖSTERREICH: Ökologie – Gefährdung – Bioindikation
Fischerei – Gesetzgebung
http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/fileadmin/site/publikationen/M087.pdf
- Gemeinde Eisbach
http://www.eisbach-rein.at/cms/gemeinde/geschichte_von_eisbach
- Herkunft und Art
www.karpfenbilder.de
- Karpfen
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karpfen
- Karpfen
http://www.biofisch.at/karpfen.htm
- Karpfenzüchter
www.karpfenzuechter.de
- MAIER-BRUCK F. Vom Essen auf dem Lande. 2. Auflage, Verlag ---Kremayr & Scheriau,
Wien. S. 370-371.
- Nutzen der heimischen Teichwirtschaft
www.teichwirteverband.at
- ÖPUL 2007 November 2006 Anhänge
- Richtlinien für Teichwirtschaft
http://www.biokreis.de/images/richtlinien/teichwirtschaft.pdf
- Rothermann Besatzfische
www.fisch.at/
- Schilcherland Spezialitäten-Die Region
http://www.schilcherland.at/heimat.htm
- SPINDLER T. Fischfauna in Österreich. Ökologie- Gefährdung-Bioindikation- Fischerei-
Gesetzgebung, 1997
http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/fileadmin/site/publikationen/M087.pdf
- Steirischer Karpfen für die gesunde Küche
http://www.neuesland.at/archiv/years/2005/44/NELA_LAND_1104_04_X.pdf
- Steirischer Karpfen für die gesunde Küche. Steiermark-Thema. Neues Land, 2005.
- Teichwirtschaft- Gut Waldschach
http://www.fische.at/
- Wasserland Steiermark
http://www.wasserland.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/10046052_1356921/74576644/Teiche%20und%20Seen-Netz%202006.pdf
- Wuchsgebiet 8.2: Subillyrisches Hügel- und Terrassenland
http://bfw.ac.at/300/1200.html
- Zwischen Klapotetz und steirischem Whisky
http://www.weinland-steiermark.at/Die-Sausaler-Weinstrasse.1444.0.html
All internet references last accessed on 19th September 2008.
Language Code
German
Product of www.genuss-region.at
Yes
Regional contact
Marie-Theres Holler
Teichwirteverband Steiermark (Styrian Fish Farmers’ Association)
Schulgasse 28
A-8530 Deutschlandsberg
Phone: 0699 17 88 88 17
E-Mail: teichwirteverband@lk-stmk.at
www.steirischesteichland.at
Authors: Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
02.08.2010, Lebensministerium III/4