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Kainuu Fisheries Research Station (KFRS) infrastructure

In Kainuu Fisheries Research Station (KFRS) in Paltamo, a wide range of cutting-edge research is carried out to promote the conservation, diversity, management and sustainable use of fish stocks and river ecosystems through extensive national and international cooperation. The research is carried out on research platforms simulating aquatic nature, combined with modern observation and monitoring equipment. In addition, production-scale fish farming research can be carried out. There is no comparable infrastructure anywhere else in Europe.  Kainuu Fisheries Research Station in Paltamo is part of the European AnaEE research infrastructure.

Photo: Jari Lindeman / Luke.

In Paltamo, a wide range of cutting-edge research is carried out to promote the conservation, diversity, management and sustainable use of fish stocks and river ecosystems through extensive national and international cooperation. The research is carried out on research platforms simulating aquatic nature, combined with modern observation and monitoring equipment. In addition, production-scale fish farming research can be carried out in Paltamo. There is no comparable infrastructure anywhere else in Europe. Kainuu Fisheries Research Station platform in Paltamo is part of the European AnaEE research infrastructure. 

Paltamo is partly stocked with, or can be stocked with, farmed fish species of different ages needed for studies. If necessary, wild fish caught in the wild can also be brought in for research purposes. The property will house the indoor and outdoor research facilities, offices and technical support facilities, research process water and residential wastewater treatment units, and accommodation for visiting researchers. Fish habitat adaptation will be studied on a stream research platform where biodiversity and stocking studies can be carried out. 

There are several hundred different types and sizes of test units available, both indoors and outdoors. The water for the experimental units is taken from nearby Lake Kivesjärvi, but spring water is also available for studies. The water can also be heated or cooled if necessary. The indoor experimental rooms are equipped with artificial lighting that follows the natural light rhythm, the intensity and rhythm of which can be adjusted to suit the needs of the study. The study also has access to a pond of about 7 hectares, which can be drained if necessary. The pond can also be used for fish farming as a natural feeding pond. 

According to the existing environmental permit decision, the plant is allowed to use water at a monthly average rate of 0.63-0.75 m3/s. According to the Finnish Food Safety Authority's fish disease monitoring, Paltamo is a P1 plant. 

Riffle-pool ponds and outdoor flumes

Riffle-pool ponds offer a wide range of opportunities for controlled studies in a natural habitat for stream fish. They are basically concrete units where the flow and the bottom structure can be controlled, for example by means of different types of protection such as natural stone and other materials. Fish in the ponds are provided with natural food, such as insects, from the ponds or from the inflowing water. The equipment also includes the possibility of monitoring fish behaviour using cloud-based RFID (PIT telemetry) and video monitoring. 

75 m² and 50 m² riffle-pool ponds 

  • 16 pcs 1.5 x 26 m stream section + 36 m² pool, incl. 64 fixed PIT antennas  
  • 24 pcs 1.5 m x 10 m stream section + 35 m² pool, incl. 32 fixed PIT antennas 
  • flow rate: 3–10 l/s  
  • dewatering: gravity  
  • water level adjustment: 30–120 cm (pool) and 0–90 cm (riffle). 

30 m x 1.5 m flumes 

  • separately installed and adjustable PIT monitoring and video monitoring 
  • size: 30 m x 1.5 m   
  • number of flumes: 6  
  • flow rate: per pool 70–100 l/s (max. size). 500 l/s   
  • watering: pump  
  • adjustable depth 0–0.5 m 

Experimental pools, outdoor facilities

Concrete test ponds allow controlled production scale experiments under well controlled fish farming conditions. 

75 m² and 50 m² rearing ponds 

  • 8 x 75 m²  
  • 36 x 50 m²   
  • Flow rate 3–10 l/s  
  • Watering: gravity  
  • Adjustable depth 0–2 m 

Gravel-bed ponds

Pond scale studies can be carried out in gravel ponds. Gravel-bed outdoor ponds are also suitable for small-scale wildlife rearing. 

400 m² gravel-bed ponds

  • Separately installed and adjustable PIT monitoring and video monitoring 
  • Size: 400 m² 
  • Number: 6 pcs 
  • Flow rate: 3–10 l/s 
  • Watering: gravity   
  • Two inlets and outlets 
  • Adjustable depth 0–2 m 

Natural food pond Koppelolampi

Natural feeding pond The Koppelolampi allows studies in a natural lake environment. Located about 40 km north of Kuhmo city centre, Koppelolampi can be used for fish farming and research. The pond is not accessible to other fish species besides the stocked ones. 

  • size: 6.74 ha   
  • filled by spring meltwater   
  • average depth: 2 m at full water surface  
  • species used in aquaculture: whitefish, pikeperch, perch, burbot 
  • pond can be drained (draining time 2 days) 

Research hall 1

0.4 m² pools  

  • size: 0.4 m²   
  • number: 60 indoors + 80 can be placed e.g., outdoors  
  • flow rate: 0.2–0.3 l/s  
  • watering: gravity  
  • can be supplemented with a family hatchery unit of 8 pools per pool (480 pools in total)  
  • pools interchangeable, e.g., for aquariums 

3 m x 0.5 m stream channel  

  • Streambeds for hatching spawn or for behavioural studies of fish. Each trough can accommodate 5 hatchery pens. Video cameras and PIT antennas can be installed in the troughs.  
  • size: 3 m x 0,5 m   
  • quantity: 10 pieces   
  • flow rate: 0.3–0.6 l/s   
  • watering: gravity 

1 m x 0.1 m swim tester 

  • For measuring the swimming ability of fish. 
  • size: 1 m x 0.1 m  
  • flow rate: 10 l/s  
  • watering: gravity 

Research Hall 2

3.2 m² pools  

  • size: 3.2 m²   
  • quantity: 66 pieces   
  • flow rate: 0.2–0.5 l/s  
  • watering: gravity 

15 m² pools  

  • size: 15 m²   
  • quantity: 12 pieces  
  • flow rate: 3–5 l/s   
  • watering: gravity 

6 m x 0.5 m stream channels  

  • The streams are isolated from the rest of the hall.   
  • Can be equipped with video cameras and 16 PIT antennas.  
  • size: 6 m x 0.5 m   
  • Quantity: 4 pcs.  
  • flow rate: 10–25 l/s  
  • watering: gravity drainage  
  • lighting: stepless adjustment 

Experimental fluviariums

Fluvarium is a lidded box with openings on opposite sides covered with 5 mm steel mesh to allow water to flow through. A separate lid allows the lighting to be adjusted. Flow-through boxes can be placed, for example, in stream baskets. The large number allows for versatile experimental setups. 

  • size: 0.4 m²   
  • quantity 300 pieces  
  • dimensions: 800 x 600 x 451 mm (aperture size 40 x 55 cm)   
  • mesh: 5 mm steel, 2 mm wire (also interchangeable with 3 mm and 10 mm mesh)  
  • standardisation of conditions (base material, shelters, flow rates) 

PIT antennas and video cameras

PIT antennas and video cameras are used on selected platforms. PIT telemetry technology, cloud storage and software applications allow for the collection of data from PIT-tagged fish units in a variety of experimental designs. Video cameras (video arrays) can be used to monitor fish behaviour from underwater or above the water. 

Areas of research

  • Aquatic ecology and stream ecosystems  
  • Stream fish habitats, restoration and migratory links  
  • Challenges of a changing climate  
  • New methods for wilding farmed fish stocks and producing naturally thriving stocklings  
  • Welfare of reared fish  
  • Selection effects of fishing  
  • Sustainable use of fish resources 

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