Salmon and trout are important natural resources for recreation and fishing, and are part of our cultural heritage. Human activities have, however, reduced the natural production of salmonids considerably. In an attempt to compensate for this there have been large releases of hatchery-produced salmon and trout for decades. Yet, the recaptures of these fish have not met expectations and in recent years the numbers have declined dramatically.
If the quality of hatchery-reared salmonids could be increased, there is a potential to considerably increase their returns and associated socioeconomic benefits. The project SMOLTPRO integrates the expertise and resources necessary to address this problem in a multidisciplinary approach.
Photo by Bo-Sören Wiklund