There are dark and light clouds hovering over the fate of the critically endangered saimon fish. The bacterium has killed the mothers who protected the vitality of the species, but at the same time there are signs of natural reproduction.
– We’ll see how the wrinkles have held up in the strong winds, Turtiainen said.
The Saimaan mullet thrives in clear waters like Luonter, in the deep and rugged backwaters of Saimaa. From there and from Yövede in the direction of Ristiina, we also try to catch the following mother fish.
Saimaan sardines are classified as extremely endangered. It has persisted on the brink of extinction for decades. At the moment, the best preserved population is in South Karelia’s Kuolimo, but this time the mother fish there are allowed to reproduce in peace in a natural way.
– We also want to keep the mother fish caught from different backwaters separate without mixing them. In the future, we will find out the DNA of the fish, so we will know if they differ from each other, says Karhunen.
Despite the natural reproduction, the vitality of the sea urchin has largely rested on the mother fish caught in the facility. The chicks born there have been planted back in the mother’s home waters.
Big fish already met
The water mold bacteria raging in fish farms has killed a significant part of not only the saimon fish but also the mother fish of lake trout and salmon.
– This autumn, the goal is to get 25 dogs and females to correct the situation, says Karhunen.
The future of Saimaannieriä still looks a little brighter than in previous decades. For example, there have been catches of cuttlefish from Luonter recently, even though no plantings have been made in the water area for ten years.
– Prey fish are probably born in the wild, and that’s the best option.
Karhunen’s ears have heard about individuals weighing up to five kilos that have been caught by trollers’ lures.
New information is needed
The purpose of Metsähallitus, in addition to catching mother fish, is to acquire information about the soul life and ways of life of the somewhat mysterious saimon. Existing information is scattered among coastal residents, researchers and fish water owners.
Saimaannieriä has related species in, for example, Lapland’s foothill lakes and Sweden’s large Vättern and Vänern lakes.
– According to recent research data from Sweden, it seems that there are more flounder moving between water bodies than thought, says Karhunen.
Nieri differs from Saimaa’s other endangered salmon fish, trout and salmon, in that it breeds in lakes, while others breed in flowing waters.
Nieri is more unfamiliar to the general public than trout and salmon, as it spends a large part of its life in the depths below the so-called jump layer. According to Karhunen, it is planned to study the movements of the salmonids as early as next year with the help of transmitters. The information could be used to set, for example, fishing restrictions.
– As far as we know, nymphs are very loyal when it comes to breeding places.
The mother fish catch started well
Saimaa eels spawn in the lake in late autumn. Strong winds have brought additional challenges to catching mother fish this autumn. The first ruts on Luonter yielded almost no water, only one 2.5-kilogram roe fish.
In the night water, instead, luckily.
– Six fish, the largest of which was a six-kilogram female, Eetu Karhunen is happy.
– There is a big shortage of male fish in particular, there is only frozen fish. At Enonkoski, we have a new generation, but they are from a couple of years ago and not yet sexually mature, says Nikula.
Nikula also reminds us of the importance of the rescue operation for the saimon fish, because it is even more endangered than the norte.
