The Holmoarna the Bothnian Sea, Kvadofjarden and Torhamnsudde in the Baltic Sea and Fjallbacka in the Skagerrak

Fish morphology, age and physiology; Fish abundance in water bodies

Within the National Monitoring Programme yearly investigations are carried out in three reference areas (see also 'Referensomraden' och' COBRA'); Holmoarna in the Norther Quark, Kvadofjarden in the Baltic Sea and Fjallbacka in the Skagerrak. Investigations in a fourth area in the southern Baltic Sea started in 2002. The aim of the programme is to follow up the natural variations in stock development, species composition, abundance and age class strength for the coastal fishery in areas not influenced by human activities. The main focus is on fish, but it also includes hydrography and soft bottom fauna. Growth is used as an indicator of the individual's physiological status and reflects variations in food intake. The growth length each year of life is calculated with the help of gill-covers which are analyzed at the institute. The results provide the basis for the estimation of the perch stock. The programme is financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and is performed in cooperation with the Museum of Natural History. Gothenburg University perform biochemical and physiological studies on perch and eelpout, and samples from perch and eelpout are used for the Museum's Monitoring Programme. The results are displayed yearly in the reports from the marine centres in Umea, Stockholm and Gothenburg. See also Swedish National Environment Contaminant Monitoring for Perch (1995-).

Fiskeriverket (1996) Metoder for overvakning av kustfiskbestand, Kustrapport 1996:3

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Arrheniusplan 4
Uppsala

750 07
Sweden