Salmon of the Pisto River (Tacis)

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The salmon of the Pistojoki River (Salmo salar m. sebago), which has its source in Finland and empties into the White Sea as the Kemijoki River, is an endangered fish: there are only a few naturally breeding strains left. Suspected reasons behind the decline of the fish population near extinction were excessive fishing and migration obstacles. For this reason, fish breeding in Finnish lakes has preferred another strain of the salmon. This fresh water salmon is a valuable fish, which could be a good basis for fishing tourism in the area, if the population was more plentiful. Especially in the Kalevala area, fi shing tourism and breeding could create desperately needed jobs. The Joint Finnish- Russian Commission on the Utilization of Frontier Waters recommends that only the original salmon strain of the Pistojoki River should be used in raising fish stock. The strain could still be revived in the Russian side, where the original salmon strain still exists to some extent, even though it has alarmingly declined there as well. The first aim of the project was to evaluate the state of the salmon strain in the target area, and, based on the evaluation, design the appropriate procedures for action. This involved collecting and analysing samples from the salmon strain in the Russian side of the Pistojoki River. The purpose was to start breeding a salmon population specifically for Pistojoki from the strain that survives in Russia, initially in an operational fishery in Käylä in Kuusamo, pending on regulations. The next stage would involve breeding fish in Russia as well. Once the fish populations were secure, it would be possible to start sustainable fishing tourism and to give recommendations for further actions in order to preserve the fish strain and strengthen fishing tourism. Fish breeding in the Pistojoki water system was considered to require a specific strategy, which would also account for regulations on fish disease, sustainable development and principles of good management.

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