Report of the Study Group on Salmon Scale Readings (SGSSR)

The Study Group on Salmon Scale Readings (SGSSR) (Chair: E. Ikonen, Finland) met in Stockholm, Sweden from 16–17 October 2002 to: a) investigate the possibilities to utilise the new technology in the image analysis methodology for the examination of the scales;b) meet the members of the Workshop on Usefulness of Scale Growth Analyses and Other Measures of Condition in Salmon and discuss among others the usefulness of the scale growth pattern in the beginning of the post-smolt phase for the estimation of the pre fishery abundance of the Baltic salmon; also the possible relationships of the scale patterns and the post-smolt feeding areas could be considered;c) take a closer view to the preparation of salmon otoliths for age analysis;d) discuss the situation in the planned centralization of collecting offshore fishing samples of the Main Basin from the fish harbours in Bornholm, Denmark.