Design LANIQAtuotanto
AspAspius aspius The large silvery asp is a roach fish, which swims near water surfaces preying on schools of small fish. With a powerful move, it grabs itself a meal and devours it with its large toothless mouth. In early spring, sexually mature asp swim upstream and males reserves their territory in gravel bottoms of streams where spawning soon occurs. Asp may grow to a length of one meter and weigh almost 10 kilograms. They are quite rare in Finland and mainly inhabit Kokemaenjoki river, the shores of the Gulf of Finland and southern Finland’s large lakes.  
ChubLeuciscus cephalus Large scaled, streamlined, with a dark back, and yellow eyes, this silver flanked fish is between 20-50 centimetres long and can weigh over three kilograms. The chub is an obscure fish of the southern and south-western parts of Finland, which prefers eutrophic, expansive and muddy waters in rivers and estuary areas along coastlines. Spawning occurs in May, in gravely and sandy river bottoms. Chub are omnivores and consume aquatic plants, fish young, mussels, gastropods and insect larvae. Chub plays no economic role in Finland and its meat is of poor quality. 
DaceLeuciscus leuciscus The dace is smaller and more slender than its relatives, the ide and the chub. This silver flanked and green backed fish is about 20 centimetres long. It inhabits clean inland waters in the eastern and northern parts of Finland, except for the northern parts of Lapland. It also resides along the coastline. Dace spawn in early spring, once the ice has receded, on gravel and sand bottoms in flowing waters. Lively dace eats Trichoptera and other insect larvae and some aquatic plants. Due to its small size, it is not valued as a food fish although some claim it is quite savoury. 
GraylingThymallus thymallus Silvery grayling live in the lakes of North Finland and the coastal areas of the Gulf of Bothnia, but migrate into streams during springtime. They have a tall brush-like dorsal fin that particularly males like to display proudly during territorial disputes. The grayling requires cool and oxygen-rich water. Its diet is similar to that of trout and consists of bottom-living mollusc, insect larvae and crustaceans. It is viewed as a serious competitor to trout. The grayling can grow up to half a meter in length and weigh one kilogram; like trout, it is a savoury and highly appreciated food fish. 
IdeLeuciscus idus Large and sturdy, the ide likes to swim in mixed schools among its relatives, the roach. What set the ide apart from roach, among other things, are its yellow eyes and small scales. Adult ide usually have a greenish or coppery hue on their back and flanks. A hereditary deviation of the species is known as the "golden ide", it is popular among hobby gardeners. The ide’s diet consists of bivalve and gastropods. Ide resides all along Finnish coastal and inland waters, except for the northernmost parts of Lapland or small lakes. Since it can grow reach a maximum length of 50 centimetres it is a good food fish. 
SalmonSalmo salar Salmon is the king of Finnish fish, at least in regard to its size: fully grown it can weigh over 30 kilograms! However, the history of the Finnish salmon is a sad one. At the beginning of the last century there were 18 salmon rivers, now there are only a few rivers left for them spawn in Tornio, Simo, Teno and Naatamo. Pollution, dams and other factors have eradicated important breeding areas for salmon. Due to the pollution, female salmon must be planted in certain areas to encourage reproduction. Salmon are sea fish and only migrate to rivers to breed. Their offspring usually return to the sea at the age of two. Salmon are ravenous beasts that prey on, among other things, herring and large crustaceans. A subspecies, called the lake Salmon, inhabits the waters of Vuoksi. 
TroutSalmo trutta Trout are treasured fish of Finland’s inland waters. They prefer clean, cool, oxygen-rich bodies of water and reside all over Finland. The trout has a unique behavioural trait that sets it apart from lake salmon; it not only swims upstream but also downstream to spawn. Large trout may weigh more than 15 kilograms and be over one meter long. Trout consume insects, crustaceans and other fish. |
|
Top
Print