We also produce information meeting scientific standards for various needs. Information needs may relate to the status of fish stocks, fish behavior and migration, fishing and its impacts, or changes in underwater habitats, for example. Our expert team assists in selecting methods and drafting research plans. Fish and Water Research Ltd. has been involved as a consultant in several EU-funded research projects and has extensive contacts with domestic research institutes and universities.
Featured Project
Tracking Smolt Migration with Radio Transmitters in Mustionjoki
In May 2017, 100 salmon smolts were tagged with internal radio transmitters in Mustionjoki. The tagged fish were released upstream of the Mustionjoki hydropower plants (Mustionkoski, Peltokoski, Billnäs, Åminnefors) in batches of 25 fish each. This study was part of the FRESHABIT LIFE IP project and received additional funding from the fishery management fees granted by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Southwest Finland. The telemetry study was commissioned by the Länsi-Uudenmaan vesi ja ympäristö ry and conducted by Kala- ja vesitutkimus Oy.
The aim of the study was to investigate the behaviours of the migrating smolts at hydropower plants and to assess their survival in the reservoir, at the power plants, and during their river migration. The progress and behaviour of the smolt migration were monitored using receiver antenna systems installed at the hydropower dams and handheld receivers for positioning. The transmitters carried by the fish emitted radio signals on their individual frequencies. By listening to a specific fish’s transmitter frequency, its current location could be inferred from the signal’s direction and strength.
A report on the study was published in the Natural Resources Institute Finland’s report series, and a scientific article was also made in the Fisheries Management and Ecology journal.
