The present state of salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Lithuania

• Main Authors: Kesminas, Vytautas, Virbickas, Tomas, Repečka, Rimantas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Lithuanian; English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: Baltic salmon; Abundance; Distribution; State; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://lmavb.lvb.lt/LMAVB:ELABAPDB5223544&prefLang=en_US

According to historical data, salmon used to spawn in 16 rivers in Lithuania. At present wild salmon smolt production has been recorded in two rivers only, the Žeimena and Neris, both of them belonging to the Nemunas River basin. During the last decade the abundance of salmon migrating to the Nemunas River basin varied in the range of 3,400 to 7,800 individuals (on average - 4,818). The potential smolt production in Lithuanian rivers amounts to 180,000 ind. However, the actual annual wild salmon smolt production ranges from 4,500 to 20,200 ind, that makes only 2.5-11% of that potential. The average density of salmon parr in these rivers is low - 1.4 ind/100 m2. The maximum density of salmon parr in the Žeimena River amounts to 5.6-9.7 ind/100m 2 and the average density - to 4.56 ind/100 m2, 0+ age group predominating. Investigations of salmon smolt migration in the Mera River revealed, that migration usually starts in the beginning of April, and lasts till the beginning of May. Migration is the most intensive the water temperature ranging from 9 to 13 C. Migrating smolts are mainly 2 years of age (66.8%; 1 yr. old - 23.6%, 3 yr. - 12.8%). In 1990-2000 annual catches of salmon by Lithuanian fishing companies varied from 5 to 70 tons.