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Fishery and fish resources

There are more than 20,000 species of fish in the world. According to an estimate, there are 75 species of fish and Cyclostomata in Estonia, 44 of whom live in fresh water, with the rest being migratory fish (salmon, sea trout) and semi-migratory fish (vimba, ide, common whitefish).

Fish resources in the Baltic Sea

The main commercial species of fish in the Baltic sea are the Baltic herring, Baltic sprat, cod and salmon. The stock of the Baltic herring is currently on the increase after its low level of 2004, whereas sprat stock is decreasing.

The Baltic sea cod stock has maintained a low level for a long time because of over-exploitation. In 2007, the European Union Fisheries Council adopted a long-term plan for the management of the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea, the implementation of which has given good results. So far, catch limitations had to be decreased year by year because of the low level of cod stock; however, the catch quota is expected to rise to some extent in 2010.

Salmon fishing is mainly based on juveniles reared in fish farms because the level of natural salmon resources in the Baltic Sea is still low.

In addition to the aforementioned, another species frequently fished is the European flounder. Flounder stock is currently in a good state and no constraints in terms of quantity have been established for flounder fishing.

The stock of the European smelt and the Northern pike in the coastal waters as well as the stock of the European perch in the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Pärnu are somewhat improving.

 

The fish stock of Väinameri, showing signs of improvement in 2003 due to the strong salmon generations of 1999 and 2002, has deteriorated again and is at very low levels. Fishing capacity has been decreased but the regeneration of fish stock in the region is also influenced by a high natural mortality rate due to an increase in the population of cormorants.

The stock of zander has been on a decline since the beginning of the 1990s; 90% of the zander catch in the coastal waters is constituted by zander from the Gulf of Riga.

The Northern pike stock, which was also on the upturn in 2003, has decreased again.

The stock of warm water fish (rudd, Crucian carp, Prussian carp, carp bream and silver bream) are in a good state.

 

Fish stock in internal water bodies

The zander stock in Lake Peipsi is on the decline; its rate of growth is slow because of its poor nutrition (due to the lack of smelt and vendace). The stock of other important fish are either in a good (carp bream and Northern pike) or satisfactory state (European perch and roach) and the catch has somewhat increased.

The number of cold water fish (common whitefish, vendace and burbot) has been on the decline because of unfavourable weather conditions (lack of or short-term ice cover, excessive warming of water in summer, etc.).

 

Commercial fish stock in Lake Võrtsjärv have stabilised in recent years and eel catch has increased to some extent. However, no significant upturn in the amount of catches can be expected.

 

The following issues of concern are related to fish resources in Estonia:

• As a result of a decline in Estonian fish resources, fish catches have decreased and the current fishing capacity exceeds the size of the fish stock available;
• The shortage of fishing opportunities and excessive fishing capacities create a pressure leading to illegal fishing;
• The number of areas suitable for spawning and habitats of fish has decreased due to the deterioration in the state of these areas or because access to these habitats or spawning areas has been blocked;
• Due to the high level of fishing effort and the decreased number of spawning areas, some species of fish have reached the status of threatened species, making it necessary to stock fish in order to preserve and restore these species;
• Fishing has an adverse impact on the ecosystem in terms of catching undersized fish and the death of marine mammals and sea birds entangled in fishing equipment.

 

Stocking of fish

Many species of fish (salmon, eel, sea trout) are threatened because of over-exploitation or lack of suitable reproduction areas or habitats and their natural ability of reproduction is too low. In order to restore or reinforce their natural populations, fish are being stocked.

Stocking of fish means that juveniles reared in fish farms will be stocked in water bodies. The types of fish that need to be stocked have been specified in the state program of reproduction and re-stocking of fish 2002-2010.

 

Salmon is the most threatened species reared for the purpose of stocking; its spawning possibilities have been greatly damaged by illegal fishing and dams built on rivers. According to the Salmon Action Plan adopted by the International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission (IBSFC) in 1997, Estonia shall ensure the spawning of salmon in potential salmon rivers up to 50% of the maximum by 2010. Salmon started to be restocked in water bodies in larger quantities after the establishment of Põlula Fish Farming Centre in 1994. Põlula also has a salmon gene bank from the River Kunda, which has also provided eggs for the production of juveniles.

 

Another major species being restocked is the eel; however, the aim of restocking eels is to increase the number of fishing possibilities in internal waters. As the eel is no longer able to swim upstream after the construction of the Narva dam in the 1950s, eel management in Lake Peipsi basin is based on restocked eels.

Eel resources have fallen rapidly in the whole Europe and, therefore, the Eel Stock Recovery Plan starting from 2009 has been prepared on the initiative of the European Commission. The plan will be used as a basis for cutting down on the number of fishing equipment in five years so that the catch would decrease by 50%.

 

In addition to salmon and eel, the next most significant species in terms of restocking is the sea trout. Other species that have been restocked include the asp, zander, tench, Northern pike and noble crayfish.