Rehabilitation of salmonids in peri-Alpine lakes during the eutrophication period: the socio-economic impacts of participatory research involving scientists and fishermen

• Main Authors: Rogissart, Hervé, Goulon, Chloé, Colleu, Sylvie, Guillard, Jean
• Other Authors: Centre Alpin de Recherche sur les Réseaux Trophiques et Ecosystèmes Limniques (CARRTEL), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (Fédération OSUG), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry ), Direction de l'évaluation (DEV INRAE), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: Lakes; Research impact; Lake-ranching; Stocking; Salmonids; Lakes research impact lake-ranching stocking salmonids; [SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology; environment; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; Arctic; Impact Lake; Rhone; Arctic charr; Salvelinus alpinus
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-04463113

International audience As the largest freshwater bodies in France, the lakes of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region provide many ecosystem services such as drinking water, tourism, biodiversity, fishing and represent important societal stakes. These peri-alpine lakes are home to fish populations that have long been exploited by professional and recreational fishermen. During the 1960's and 80's, these lake ecosystems were highly impacted by eutrophication due to anthropogenic pressures (population growth, industrial and agricultural development). Excessive algal growth result in a decrease of dissolved oxygen and then affect eggs survival, impacting natural recruitment of lake salmonids, including Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and whitefish (Coregonus spp.). These factors have resulted in the decline of these two emblematic species and a drastic drop in catches causing economic losses. Starting in 1983, in conjunction with water quality restoration efforts, the “Station d’Hydrobiologie Lacustre” in Thonon-les-Bains (INRA - National Institute for Agricultural Research), in collaboration with fishermen and government services, developed an applied research program to improve and optimize salmonid restocking, known as "Pacage lacustre". This project aims to carry out controlled and optimized releases of juveniles to compensate for low natural recruitment. An historical point of view of the research efforts of scientists from INRA and their collaborative partnerships to provide a sound diagnosis and to develop expertises in rearing whitefish and Arctic charr is shown as well as the socio-economics impacts. This project allowed contributing to the rehabilitation in the peri-alpine lakes of whitefish and Arctic charr populations and the sustainability of professional fishing activities.