Biological basis for restoration of the natural life cycle of landlocked salmon

Landlocked salmon is a critically endangered species occurring in the Vuoksi watercourse. All the ancient spawning grounds in the river habitats have been destroyed mainly due to hydropower constructions. Therefore maintenance of the landlocked salmon, nowadays, depends totally on fish rearing and stockings. Restoration of the natural reproduction and life cycle of landlocked salmon is extremely important for the long-term maintenance of its biodiversity and viability which, at the same, ensures our future possibilities to exploit it as a fishing object.

Goals

Main goal of the project is to define the biological requirements for restoration of the natural life cycle of landlocked salmon.

Benefits

Present maintenance procedures relying mainly on brood fish rearing and stocking of juveniles is covered by taxpayers money (via state budget). Therefore more efficient maintenance protocols would ease taxpayers share of the total costs. Private water owners and the authorities being responsible for stocking obligations would also benefit from better quality of stocking material. In addition, all fishermen would also benefit from maintenance of viable landlocked salmon stocks.

Project's leader

Jorma Piironen

Other persons

Markku Gavrilov, Tauno Nurmio, Matti Janhunen, Matti Salminen

Duration

2001–2012

Text version