Understanding and comparing early mortality of European Salmon populations at sea I (SMOLTRACK I) (39428)

The project will provide comparable estimates of post-smolt mortality from different geographical areas. In combination with other published results, the research will provide crucial input on marine mortality to existing models used for assessment purposes and test if the measured initial mortality can explain observed variation in return rates. The project will also test the costs and operational feasibility of the systems under various conditions and in different areas. The results will be analysed and reported to NASCO, the public and relevant agencies and organisations including the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). If causality between post-smolt mortality and marine return rates can be established, the findings may inform future management and conservation of (some) Atlantic salmon stocks.

Partners
North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, UK (coordinator)
DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources (coordinator)
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, UK Kingdom
General Directorate of Natural Heritage, Xunta de Galicia, Spain
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, UK

Funding
The project is funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. 

Research area: Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology