Current state of Atlantic salmon populations in Karelia and updating its farm breeding technologies

Abstract

Abstract Diadromous marine and freshwater Atlantic salmon occurs in Karelia’s water bodies. Freshwater salmon populations are listed in the Red Data Books of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Karelia. Marine salmon occurs in relatively small Karelia’s rivers flowing into the White Sea. In the past few decades, the deleterious influence of economic activities on North European Russia’s valuable fish stock tends to increase. As a result of hydraulic construction and other types of human activities, the White Sea salmon stock has rapidly decreased. An efficient way of restoring its abundance is “farm” reproduction. In the Republic of Karelia, artificial salmon reproduction is carried out at Vyg and Kem fish farms. One of the methods used to improve fish production quality is to apply laser radiation to salmon eggs and juveniles during “farm” reproduction. Application of low-intensity laser radiation to fish in a certain dose range has been shown to improve the compensatory adaptation of organisms. As a result, death rate declines and fish samples grow more rapidly. To reconstruct and maintain the original structure of Atlantic salmon populations in Karelia’s water bodies, purpose-oriented fish breeding, which comprises farm reproduction, fish protection and the recultivation of spawning and growing grounds, is needed.