Taivalkoski research infrastructure

Taivalkoski research infrastructure is located along the Ohtaoja River, which flows into the Iijoki River. Ohtaoja has been an important sea trout spawning river during the natural state of the Iijoki River.

Aquaculture activities started in Taivalkoski in 1966 and the facility was renovated to its current size in the 1990s. Since its establishment, the main task of the facility has been to conserve fish genes through broodstock farming. The broodstock of salmonid predators, whitefish and grayling form a living gene bank.

The conservation of fish gene stocks is also supported by the production of fish eggs and fry at the Taivalkoski site for fisheries obligations and for domestication and restocking. The production and sale of primary aquaculture material for the needs of compulsory farming and the private aquaculture sector is also significant.

Fisheries research focuses on various fisheries and environmental monitoring, aquaculture studies and other research projects. A unique fish scale archive is preserved and maintained in Taivalkoski, containing scale samples and data from more than one million fish units recorded over a hundred years.

• The hatchery facilities (including the isolation unit) contain troughs, trays, tubs, and funnels suitable for egg incubation and fry hatching, as well as the necessary tools for the care of eggs and fry (e.g., a live egg sorting machine).
• Several fish rearing halls house a total of 142 fiberglass tanks ranging from 1.0 to 14.0 m² suitable for fry rearing, and 61 steel/concrete-bottomed tanks of 50 m² suitable for broodstock rearing.
• The outdoor tank area includes an additional 7 concrete tanks of 95 m².
• The rearing facilities are equipped with the necessary tools for fish handling (nets, tubs, scales, tagging equipment) and tank-specific maintenance tools for fish and tanks (siphons, brushes). Feeding can be adjusted per tank using an automatic feeding system.
• Measurement and pre-treatment facilities are available.
• The facility’s maximum permitted flow rate is 800 L/s.
• Groundwater utilization is possible.
• The facility is classified as a P0-level unit by the Finnish Food Authority’s fish health service.

• Diversity of fish stocks
• Fisheries monitoring