Sea trout in Denmark

Sea trout in Denmark

Sea trout in Denmark 173 streams with production of trout in Baltic area (ICES SD 22 25) Majority small (< 2m wide at outlet)

Trout streams on Bornholm

- Zealand

Funen and Jutland

Overall positive development over last two decades 350.0 300.0 250.0 N x 1000 200.0 150.0 W 100.0 50.0 0.0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Production of wild sea trout smolt in ICES SD 22-25

And concomitant reductions in releases of trout 600.0 500.0 N x 1000 400.0 300.0 200.0 fry 1 s parr 1yr 2 yr 1 yr smolt 100.0 0.0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Danish commercial catch 1999-2010 120 100 80 60 Sea trout S.t. % of salmon 40 20 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Recreational fishing both as rod and line fishery sports fishing And by using fixed gear gill nets, fyke nets Catch unknown but presently under investigation

Ascending spawners in streams Kolding and Vejle Sportsfishery landing index 2.5 2 Index 1.5 1 Index Kolding Index Vejle 0.5 0 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Note effort unknown, but probably increasing during period

Kolding Å 160 140 120 100 80 60 Avg density 0+ Avg. density 1+ and older 40 20 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Vejle Å 300 250 200 150 100 Avg density 0+ Avg. density 1+ and older 50 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

South East Jutland streams South east Jutland streams 160 140 120 100 80 0+ 1+ and older 60 40 20 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

600 500 400 300 200 100 Baggeå Bakkebæk Blykobbe Å Bobbe Å Byåen 0 1971 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 1971 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 1968 1968 1959 1959 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Bornholm streams Døndals Å Grødby Å Gyldenså Henrikebæk Kelse Å

Touristic side effects Bornholm (http://sportsfiskeribornholm.dk/index.html) Sea trout Funen (http://www.seatrout.dk/) Massive investment in releases, restoration and marketing Sea trout Zealand Recent copy of sea trout Funen under establisment Sea trout Limfjord (http://www.havorredlimfjorden.dk/) Same under establishment

Paradox high proportion of red list streams (HELCOM Salar 2011) 45 of 173 trout streams (26%) with original population has production < 50% of capacity Most are small streams In larger streams from few sections to 47 % of tributaries Main reasons: siltation, barriers including artificial lakes - and poor habitat quality in tributaries

Reasons for positive development Water quality up sewage cleaning since 1970 ies Habitat quality improved since 1980 ies More lenient stream maintenance Restoration mainly after 2000 (small projects gravel addition, some barriers removed, larger projects remeandering streams)

Reasons for positive development Fishing restrictions in sea 100 m closed area along shore Closed areas at rivermouths Extended closed areas in many places Releases of fish gradually replaced by habitat improvements Release is only offspring from wild spawners

Fishing regulations at sea most important rules Minimum landing size 40 cm Closed season (only maturing fish) 16.11 15.01 Closed areas at river mouths with width at outlet < 2 m 500 m from 16.09 15.03 (some exceptions) Closed areas at river mouths with width at outlet > 2 m 500 m all year (expanded areas at many rivers) (some exceptions) Gillnets minimum distance to shore 100 m

Fishing regulations at sea most important rules Minimum distance between gears Maximum 3 gillnets per fisherman (recreational fishing only) Locally pound nets (mainly targeting herring) must have upper edge at least 10 cm below the surface Gillnet mesh sizes allowed: 1.July- 15 Nov. Mesh size < 50 mm (knot-knot) or > 65 mm (knot-knot)

Closed areas

Effect from restrictions in net fishing changed age composition

Sea age composition tagged trout R Kolding 2002-2004

Size composition subdiv 22 40 35 30 % of recaptures 25 20 15 10 5 0 < 40 40-49 50-59 > 60 Length class (cm)

Rules etc. now available on mobile internet http://m.fisketegn.dk/ Also possible to purchase state license this way

Maps available on Smartphones with GPS

Fishing regulations in freshwater Minimum landing size 40 cm Closed season 15.11 15.01 (in most rivers voluntarily extended to 01.11 28 (29).02) 2/3 of the main stream must be kept when fishing with fixed gear Minimum distance between fixed gears in streams 100 m Mesh size (bar length) in the cod end of fyke nets must be at least 32 mm. Around dams 50 m both up and downstream are closed to fishing Only land owner or long term leaser may use fixed gear.

Habitat quality

Small but significant barriers

Sediment trap

Artificial lake before construction

Artificial lake established 2006

Artificial lake before construction

Artificial lake established 2003

VMP lake with very low smolt loss (0.1%) Vejle Å

8 % of stream enters artifical lake 26 ha lake, dike surrounds lake In Out Vejle Å passes lake on south side of dike

Restoration spawning gravel in small streams

Sediment traps to protect spawning grounds

Remaining major problems Siltation of spawning grounds also affects habitat quality Habitat quality insufficient - especially in smaller streams Shortage of gravel for spawning Remaining barriers including artificial lakes Some illegal net fishing at sea and near river mouths