The Swedish compensatory programme for salmon in the Baltic: an action plan with biological and economic implications

During the 20th century the population structure of the Baltic salmon has changed due to natural fluctuations and the activities of Man. The building of power plants from the 1940s onwards has drastically diminished the prerequisites for the natural production of smolts. The establishment of compensatory hatcheries at each river along the Swedish coast has made it possible to implement the mass rearing of smolts for release in these rivers. The release of smolts by other nations, starting from about 1970 onwards, has increased the catches of salmon in the 1980s. The increased number of smolts released, as well as the fishing effort in offshore conditions in the Baltic, are threats against the natural smolt production. A new approach to the exploitation of the salmon stock in the Baltic is needed. Management of the fishery, including various types of sea ranching, is necessary to save the natural production of smolts.

This article is part of Marine Science Symposia Volume 192 - "The ecology and management aspects of extensive mariculture". To access other articles from this volume, please use the link to the volume on the upper right hand side.