Salmon Diary 

Summary

Illegal poaching can have big impacts on already sensitive populations, especially during the spawning season when salmon and trout migrate to spawning areas. Together with other migratory obstacles and degrading spawning habitats, the regeneration of the populations is impaired and populations face quick declines.

This project aimed to protect and strengthen the population of the Atlantic salmon and sea trout in Lithuania. The goal was a long-term reduction of poaching, imposing the use of the “catch and release principle”, and the creation of a network of active amateur fishermen and volunteer community. This was done by organizing anti-poaching raids in cooperation with the authorities, and by conducting river clean-up events in several Lithuanian rivers. Also, proposals were submitted to state institutions on the regulation related to amateur and commercial fishing in Lithuania, and educational events for the public were organized to inform about the issue and engage volunteers.