The Fresh Water Salmon of Pielinen to the Lieksanjoki River – Migration route surveys and biological factors
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The project was a part-project of the Pielisen Järvilohi Lieksanjokeen framework project, and its purpose was to produce reliable basic information to be used in assessing the necessity and feasibility of constructing migration routes and organising sustainable fishing.

Main activities

• Completing a survey on the production capacity of the fresh water trout populations of Lake Pielinen, • Researching the efficiency of planting by marking planted fish of various ages with group and individual markings, • Acquirement of new breeder fish traps for catching fish and implementing of the breeder fish catching, • Researching the behaviour of the salmon fish migrating upstream in the Lieksanjoki River by a bypass experiment in the old Lieksanjoki river, • Research of the potential of breeding production of the rapid areas above the dams of the Lieksanjoki River by electrical test fishing, micro-habitation mappings and joint hatching plantings of the project and the RKTL in the rapids above the dams. • Acquirement of new smolt traps and building of new smolt traps suitable for the Lieksanjoki River for fishing, implementation of the smolt catching and acoustic surveillance of the smolts in the delta Lieksanjoki and in Pielinen, implementation of a test overhaul • Studying the identification process.

Achievements

In order to survey the production capacity of the fresh water trout populations of Lake Pielinen, the project did a fishing survey concerning the Pielinen lake together with the North Karelia Employment and Economic Development Centre, Pielinen fishing district, the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute (RKTL) and the North Karelia Environment Centre. The efficiency of planting was researched by marking planted fish of various ages with group and individual markings. The project acquired new breeder fish traps for catching fish and implemented the breeder fish catching. The behaviour of the salmon fish migrating upstream in the Lieksanjoki River was researched by a bypass experiment in the old Lieksanjoki river channel in 2002 and a telemetry survey between 2002 and 2004. The potential of breeding production of the rapid areas above the dams of the Lieksanjoki River was researched by electrical test fishing, micro-habitation mappings and joint hatching plantings of the project and the RKTL in the rapids above the dams. The project acquired new smolt traps for fishing and built new smolt traps suitable for the Lieksanjoki River for fishing. The smolt catching was implemented and the acoustic surveillance of the smolts in the delta of Lieksanjoki and in Pielinen, together with the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute. A test overhaul was also implemented in Käpykoski in the Lieksanjoki River. For the delayed planting of fresh water salmon hatchings, migrating hatchings were raised over summer in baize sacks in the downstream of the Lieksanjoki River. The identification process was surveyed by individual markings on the salmon and trout hatchings of both those grown in the river in baize sacks and those released in the river in the spring for comparison in 2003. The raising of fresh water salmon in sacks was moved to the Naarajoki River in 2004. The project made preliminary surveys on cooperation possibilities between the project and the Karelian Science Academy and a preliminary mapping of the rapids of the Russian section of the Tuulijoki River. The results of the project are significant to the planning of the state and management of the region's fishing industry, development and coordination of fishing tourism and planning the care of the fresh water salmon population under threat.