PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON RESTORATION OF ATLANTIC SALMON (Salmo salar L.) IN POLAND

Abstract

Salmon was present in many Polish rivers. Deterioration of environmental conditions and damming of rivers caused extinction of salmon populations in Polish rivers and it became a protected inland water species. 50 000 and 30 000 salmon eyed eggs were imported respectively in 1985 and 1987 from Daugava spawners, and 10 000 Neva salmon eyed eggs were obtained in 1985 from Finland. Daugava spawners were reared in net cages in the Gulf of Gdańsk. 0,8–1 million eggs were obtained yearly. In 1995 these spawners were moved to the Fish Farm „Aquamar” and reared in fresh water. In 1994 another 50 000 Daugava salmon eyed eggs were imported from Latvia. 349-750 one and two–year–old salmons were released into the Drawa River, the Drwęca River and into 3 Pomeranian rivers in 1994-1996. Tagging experiments were carried out and 24 856 tagged smolts released into 5 rivers. From these tagged fish, 16 younger fish and 11 older ones were obtained. Older salmon were caught in the southern Baltic and in the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia. They reached 47 cm after the first year
in the sea, after the second 83 cm and 5.9 kg.