| Summary: | 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.
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