Fishery and reproduction of the Baltic Sea trout (Salmo trutta trutta) and some data on its spawning stock in the river Gauya

Abstract

Information on the fishery and reproduction of the sea trout in the Baltic countries is given. The results of the analysis of the sea trout (sex, length, weight, age) of the river Gauya in 1974-1975 are listed. Total sea trout catch by all the Baltic countries for the 1970-1974 period on the average made up 2540 metric centners per year; the Soviet Union catch being about 140 m.c. , including Latvian SSR – 67 m.c. Mean sea trout length in the commercial stock of the river Gauya is 58.8.cm, weight – 2,1 kg. In respect to the duration of the fresh water period of life, two-year olds dominate in the stock (80 %). The majority of the individuals spawn for the first time after the first or second year of sea life (in total more than 85%). The growth rate within the period of sea life of the Gauya river sea trout is higher than that of the Northern Baltic rivers. The present state of artificial reproduction being weakly developed. It’s suggested to extend artificial reproduction of sea trout in Latvia.