Sea Trout

Sea trout in the Baltic Sea consists of approximately 1000 stocks of which about half are wild. There are no estimates of the historical numbers of sea trout populations or quantitative estimates of the total natural smolt production in past years. The status of sea trout populations is very variable - some appear to be in a good state whereas others appear to be in near extinction.

Sea trout landings are currently at the level of 900 tons in the Baltic Sea. The catches were between 1,350 and 1,850 tonnes in the periods of 1990-1994 and 1999-2000. In the Baltic Proper, sea trout densities are in general below the potential levels in the area. Habitat restoration in rivers is needed and accessibility to spawning areas should be improved in many rivers. Furthermore, in some regions, restrictions in fishing are needed. In the Gulf of Bothnia and Gulf of Finland spatial fishing restrictions, minimum mesh size for gillnets, and effort limitations should be implemented for the fisheries in the sea and in rivers carrying wild sea trout populations in order to decrease the exploitation rate. The restoration of rearing habitats and building of new fish ways should be carried out in many rivers (report/2008/Baltic Sea).

HELCOM’s river inventory

HELCOM is planning to contribute to the EC management plans by an inventory project aiming at a new classification of the Baltic salmon and sea-trout rivers. Updated information on the status of the rivers is needed and a new inventory of Baltic salmon and sea trout rivers needs to be carried out. This inventory will be put into effect on a project basis and in cooperation with the competent scientists and all the Baltic Sea state fisheries and environmental administrations.