In the New Year, Põlula Fish Farm to continue operating as a part of RMK 07.01
As of 1 January, the Põlula Fish Farm centre, located in Lääne Viru County, is a part of RMK. As of the New Year, a Fish Farming Department with eight employees will begin operating as a part of RMK.
According to Aigar Kallas, Chairman of the Management Board of RMK, fish farming is mainly associated with RMK’s nature conservation activities. “Salmon juveniles are grown in Põlula in order to populate Estonian rivers in which the natural population of salmon has been destroyed, but where living conditions for restoring the population exist,” said Kallas. “Therefore, it boils down to restoring the salmon population in Estonian waters.”
According to data from genetic research, the indigenous salmon population has been preserved in Kunda, Keila, and Vasalemma rivers, being unique in the Gulf of Finland area and remarkable throughout the entire Baltic Sea. Therefore, in the coming years, attention shall be paid to preserving the gene pool of indigenous salmon populations and using this for restoring populations.
The RMK Fish Farming Department shall employ eight people – three fish farmers and one fish farming specialist, a technologist, a fish farming equipment electrician, a fish farming adviser, and a manager.
With her Directive of 26 November, the Minister of the Environment decided to terminate the activities of Põlula Fish Farm in its current form and transfer the tasks of the latter to RMK. The Põlula Fish Farm operates in Põlula, Rägavere Rural Municipality, Lääne Viru County, and is the only state fish farm in Estonia that restores fish stocks.
RMK is a profit-making state agency established under the Forestry Act, aimed at the sustainable and efficient management of the state forest. RMK grows reforestation materials, organises forestry works, and is engaged in the sale of forest and timber and the upkeep of wild animals. Additionally, RMK establishes opportunities for nature walking and forest holidays in recreation areas, in Estonia’s five national parks and almost 40 other protected areas, and shapes nature awareness. RMK manages 38% of Estonia’s forests.
Further information:
Kunnar Klaas
Head of RMK Fish Farming Department
Telephone 527 8245
E-mail kunnar.klaas@rmk.ee
