Lake Ohrid is one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, preserving a unique aquatic ecosystem that is of worldwide importance, with more than 200 endemic species. Poaching and overfishing have driven the Ohrid trout to the verge of extinction, despite conservation efforts.

Under the new conservation program, fishermen from Lake Ohrid use nets to catch spawning fish, carefully placing them in holding containers. Scientists from the Hydrobiological Institute of Ohrid then milk the roe and sperm from the fish and release fertilised eggs into the lake, said biologist Zoran Spirkoski.