"Watch Out, Pond Harvesting!" Traditional Practices in a Changing World

A pond is being harvested – and everyone is watching with excitement! At the joint event “Watch Out, Pond Harvesting!”, organised by the Federal Agency for Water Management and KLAR! Kleinregion Waldviertel Nord on 28 October 2026, visitors had the opportunity to experience traditional pond harvesting up close. Günther Gratzl and his team from the Waidhofen/Thaya Fishing Association demonstrated their work, accompanied by expert explanations from Elisabeth Peham.

For centuries, carp ponds in the Waldviertel region of Austria have been harvested by hand every autumn, following long-established traditions. Extensive pond management, the natural food supply within the ponds, and, above all, the skills and experience of pond farmers play a crucial role in this process.

After all, it is often only during the annual autumn harvest that pond farmers discover whether their management efforts have been successful. Unlike in many other areas of agriculture, a pond cannot simply be opened up to see what is happening inside. Instead, successful pond management requires experience, sensitivity, and a deep understanding of natural processes.

At the same time, this centuries-old tradition is facing new challenges. The drought of the past summer, increasing water scarcity, and the need for emergency pond harvesting have highlighted just how much conditions are changing. Legal and regulatory requirements also play an important role.

During the event, participants exchanged ideas on how pond farming can adapt to these developments and what is needed to ensure that the Waldviertel's ponds can continue to be sustainably managed in the future while maintaining their important role as valuable habitats that support biodiversity.