Browsing by Subject "sähkökoekalastus"

The River Vantaa Gypsum Project’s (2018–2020) effects on fish stock were studied in a total of six different research areas in the Lepsämä River and the Luhtajoki River in Nurmijärvi. Two reference areas unaffected by the gypsum-treated fields and four downstream impact areas were selected as research areas. The goal was to examine the status of the local fish stock and its possible changes in the impact areas by electrofishing and the suitability of water quality for the reproduction of brown trout by incubating eggs in situ. These results were compared with those of the reference areas. Electrofishing was conducted in the autumn of 2018 prior to the gypsum treatment and was repeated the following autumn. The results of 2019 and 2018 were compared with each other and the changes in the status of the fish stock in the reference and impact areas were also compared in order to take into account the natural variation between years. The brown trout eggs were incubated from autumn 2018 to spring 2019. The water quality of the rivers was monitored at the same time and particular attention was given to the sulphate concentrations in the river during the incubation. Based on the electrofishing results, gypsum treatment had no observable effects on the fish stocks. The results improved in both the reference and impact areas in the latter year. The natural reproduction of brown trout was also found to have been successful in the impact areas. In the incubation experiment, the survival rate was approximately the same in the reference areas and the impact areas. Survival to hatching was slightly better in the control areas. However, no statistically significant difference was observed. Environmental variables had a significant effect on the test results, and there was a large dispersion both between and within the study areas. According to the results, water quality is suitable for brown trout reproduction even after gypsum treatment. The measured and estimated sulphate concentrations in river waters during the studies were well below the limits established in scientific studies. The results show that the sulphate concentrations and reduced water turbidity did not affect the fish stocks. The results did not reveal gypsum treatments having any effects on fish stocks. According to this and previous studies, it seems very likely that gypsum treatment does not have a significant effect on fish stocks in rivers or on brown trout reproduction. However, the results do not exclude all possible local effects, temporary or long-term, that gypsum treatments might have, especially when the treated areas are larger. A more detailed impact assessment would require further research.