Baltic Salmon in EstoniaBaltic Salmon in Estonia

Taavi NuumTaavi NuumEstonian Green Movement - Estonian Green Movement -

FoEFoE

State of the stockState of the stock

• Wild salmon populations in 9 Estonian Wild salmon populations in 9 Estonian rivers in the Gulf of Finland + Pärnu riverrivers in the Gulf of Finland + Pärnu river

• Condition of wild stock is poorCondition of wild stock is poor• Production of wild smolt is very small in Production of wild smolt is very small in

several riversseveral rivers• Parr densities are very low in many Parr densities are very low in many

riversrivers• Official catches of salmon in the area are Official catches of salmon in the area are

lowlow

Reared stocksReared stocks

• Most of the catch orginates from smolt Most of the catch orginates from smolt realesesrealeses

Salmon catches

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

tuh

at t

on

ni

010002000300040005000600070008000

river

coastal

open sea

järelkasv

Management objectivesManagement objectives

The IBSFC objective is to increase the natural production of wild Baltic salmon to at least 50% of the naturalproduction capacity of each river by 2010, while retaining the catch as high as possible.

Main obstacles to achive this Main obstacles to achive this goalgoal

• Blocked migration routes to the Blocked migration routes to the reproduction areasreproduction areas

• Unpredictable amount of poaching Unpredictable amount of poaching with electrofishing equipment in with electrofishing equipment in riversrivers

Overview of main obstacles on Overview of main obstacles on Estonian salmon riversEstonian salmon rivers• Kunda river – first dam 2km. Most of Kunda river – first dam 2km. Most of

reproduction areas are inaccessiblereproduction areas are inaccessible• Loobu river – first dam 8 km from mouth Loobu river – first dam 8 km from mouth

important part of potential reproduction important part of potential reproduction areas are inaccessibleareas are inaccessible

• Valgejõgi – first dam 8 km, 90% of Valgejõgi – first dam 8 km, 90% of former reproduction areas are former reproduction areas are inaccessibleinaccessible

• Jägala river- first dam 2 km, rebuilded Jägala river- first dam 2 km, rebuilded Linnamäe HydropowerstationLinnamäe Hydropowerstation

• Pirita- first dam 14km, riverwater is used Pirita- first dam 14km, riverwater is used for providing drinking water for Tallinnfor providing drinking water for Tallinn

Overview of main obstacles on Overview of main obstacles on Estonian salmon riversEstonian salmon rivers

• Vasalemma – first dam 7 km, Vasalemma – first dam 7 km, important spawning grounds are important spawning grounds are upstream from damupstream from dam

• Pärnu – Sindi damPärnu – Sindi dam

FISH PASSWAYS AND LADDERS FISH PASSWAYS AND LADDERS WOULD INCREASE THE SIZE OF WOULD INCREASE THE SIZE OF

REPRODUCTION AREASREPRODUCTION AREAS

Actions to safeguard salmon Actions to safeguard salmon habitatshabitats

• According to the Ministry of According to the Ministry of Environment decree from july 2004 in Environment decree from july 2004 in Estonia is 112 rivers and riverparts. Estonia is 112 rivers and riverparts. Alltogether there are 200 waterbodys Alltogether there are 200 waterbodys which are suitable for salmonidswhich are suitable for salmonids

• It is prohibited to build there new It is prohibited to build there new dams and reconstruct old dams in dams and reconstruct old dams in extent, which rise a waterlevel in riverextent, which rise a waterlevel in river

Which rivers are protectedWhich rivers are protectedJägala jõgiJägala jõgi – from waterfall until river-mouth – from waterfall until river-mouthKunda riverKunda river – full length – full lengthLoobu riverLoobu river – full length – full lengthPirita riverPirita river – from first dam until river-mouth – from first dam until river-mouthPärnu riverPärnu river – from Tarbja water-reservoir – from Tarbja water-reservoir dam until river mouthdam until river mouthVasalemma riverVasalemma river – from Ruila dam until – from Ruila dam until river-mouthriver-mouthVääna riverVääna river – from Saku dam until river- – from Saku dam until river-mouthmouthSelja riverSelja river – full length – full lengthValgejõgi Valgejõgi – full length– full lengthKeila riverKeila river – from Keila-Joa waterfall until – from Keila-Joa waterfall until river-mouthriver-mouth

Government decree about Government decree about requirements for damming up the riverrequirements for damming up the river

• It should assure fishies passageIt should assure fishies passage

• The built construction should allow to The built construction should allow to regulate a water level within allowed regulate a water level within allowed extentextent

• Downstream from dam should be Downstream from dam should be guaranteed a sanitary water flow guaranteed a sanitary water flow

Thank You!!!Thank You!!!