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Post‐smolt migration of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., from the Simojoki river to the Baltic Sea
Author(s) -
Jutila E.,
Jokikokko E.,
Ikonen E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2009.01212.x
Subject(s) - salmo , hatchery , estuary , fishery , oceanography , biology , baltic sea , sea surface temperature , fish <actinopterygii> , geology
Summary The migration pattern of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) post‐smolts in the Baltic Sea was investigated based on tag recoveries of Carlin‐tagged wild and hatchery‐reared smolts released in the Simojoki river in 1972–2005. Exact date of sea entry was known only for the wild smolts. Tag recoveries of wild salmon in the estuary within 10 km from the river mouth were received on average 3.5 days (±2.0 SD) after release. Time required for emigration from the estuary was dependent on the sea surface temperature (SST) off the river ( R 2 = 0.625, P = 0.004), being shorter in years with warmer than colder sea temperatures. Outside the estuary, the wild and hatchery‐reared post‐smolts migrated southwards along the eastern coast of the northern Gulf of Bothnia, the tag recoveries coinciding with the warm thermal zone in the SST occurring along the coastal area. After arriving in the southern Gulf of Bothnia in late summer the post‐smolts mostly migrated near the western coast, reaching the Baltic main basin in late autumn. The relationships between the marine conditions and migration patterns are discussed.