24.05.2023
Small juveniles of Atlantic salmon and trout are planted in the main estuary and tributaries of the river Iijoki
24.5.2023
At the turn of May-June, 400,000 freshly hatched juveniles of Atlantic salmon and 100,000 sea trout, 30,000 pre-summer juveniles of Atlantic salmon and 50,000 1-year-old juveniles of Atlantic salmon and 20,000 sea trout will be planted in the Iijoki River and its tributaries. Restocking supports the creation of salmonid stocks stigmatised in the river.
‘The sea trout are planted in the River Loukusanjoki, the River Pärjänjoki, the River Livojoki, the River Kostonjoki and a small batch also in the River Siuruanjoki. Salmon are planted in the main river Iijoki and in the river Livo.’, says Fisheries Specialist Eero Hartikainen About the forest management.
The young were acquired from the Natural Resources Institute Finland, Kalankasvatus Vääräniemi Oy and Montan Lohi Oy. The Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Regional Assembly has been responsible for the procurement of the chicks. Fish are planted by Metsähallitus. As an exception, Montan Lohi Oy plants 1-year-old sea trout. The success of plantings will be monitored by electro-experimental fishing in July-August. Electro-experimental fishing is carried out by Metsähallitus.
‘1-year-old Atlantic salmon and 1-year-old sea trout are fat-finished, so they can be distinguished in the smolt phase from wild fish and fish that are newly hatched or planted in the pre-summer period in Haapakoski’, says Lohi Iijoki Project Manager Mirko Laakkonen Regional Assembly of Oulu Region.
The measures of the Lohi Iijoki project include telemetry monitoring of smolts in Haapakoski and Pahkakoski (Natural Resources Institute Finland), underwater camera monitoring of smolts in Haapakoski, experimental use and development of the Haapakoski downhill migration route, over-transfers of smolts and rising fish, a planting programme for small juveniles and the production of a video about Iijoki.
The Lohi Iijoki project is funded by the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, Natural Resources Institute Finland, PVO-Vesivoima Oy, Lapland ELY Centre/Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ii, Oulu, Pudasjärvi, Taivalkoski, Kuusamo and the Iijoki fishing area. The project is also being implemented by Metsähallitus and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia. The project is managed by the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region and the Natural Resources Institute Finland. The total budget of the project is 902,000 euros, of which 620,000 euros is managed by the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region and 282,000 euros by the Natural Resources Institute Finland. The project will take place from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2024.
The project has received funding from the NOUSU programme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The programme improves the living conditions of migratory fish and aims to restore the natural reproduction of migratory fish stocks in Finland's current waters.
Additional information:
Mirko Laakkonen, Project Manager, Lohi Iijoki -project, Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, tel. +358 40 685 4036, mirko.laakkonen(at)pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi
Riina Huusko, Project Manager/Researcher, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Lohi Iijoki project, Natural Resources Institute Finland, tel. +358 29 532 2192, rina.huusko(at)luke.fi
