Belarusian "Red" Fish

9 species of fish are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus: sterlet, Atlantic salmon, brown trout, brook trout, European grayling, European smelt, lake minnow, common barbel, and vimba bream. Fishing for these species is prohibited.

Sterlet. The only species of the sturgeon family living in the wild in Belarusian rivers such as the Pripyat, Sozh, Berezina, Dnieper, and their tributaries. Individuals typically found are 40-60 cm long and weigh up to 1 kg, although some specimens can grow over 1 m in length and weigh around 16 kg. Sterlet is a schooling bottom-dwelling fish, preferring deep river sections and flowing pits with sandy or gravelly bottoms. It spawns at temperatures above 10°C from late April to early May in the upper reaches of rivers.

From 1948 to 1954, sterlet was introduced into the Western Dvina in Latvia and the Neman in Lithuania. However, sterlet did not acclimatise in the same rivers within Belarus. Currently, broodstocks of sterlet have been established in some fish farms in the republic, allowing for the production of stocking material for restocking rivers with this valuable species. In 2006, five thousand young sterlets were released into the Berezina River, in 2016, about 900 specimens were released into the Pripyat River, and in 2017, 1.9 thousand sterlets were introduced into the Dnieper on the Belarusian side and 30 thousand specimens into the transboundary section from the Russian side.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout. Anadromous species of the salmon family. Salmon reach a length of 1.5 m and a weight of 32 kg, while brown trout grow up to 1 m and 12 kg. While most of the brown trout's body is covered with numerous black spots, salmon have practically no spots below the lateral line.

Until the 1950s, salmon and brown trout entered the Western Dvina, Neman, and Viliya rivers from the Baltic Sea to spawn. Today, both species are encountered during spawning (in October-December) in the watercourses of the Viliya River basin within the Ostrovets and Smorgon districts of the Grodno region. Despite the fact that salmonids undertake long migrations during their sea life, most of them return to spawn in the same rivers and even to

the spawning grounds where they hatched. During spawning, these fish do not feed, so after spawning, many salmon die from exhaustion.

Brown Trout. This is a freshwater resident (permanently inhabiting one place) form of the brown trout. It inhabits small rivers and streams with clean, cold water. It is widespread in the Neman and Viliya river basins. Spawning occurs in November-December on riffles with sandy or gravel bottoms. Trout growth is quite rapid, but strongly depends on habitat conditions: large individuals are found in large rivers with a sufficient food base, while large individuals are not noted in small streams with insufficient food. The body length of trout reaches 22-55 cm, and the mass is 0.2-2 kg.

European Grayling. The only representative of the grayling family in Belarus. It is one of the most beautiful fish. Its coloration is bright, especially during the breeding season. There are small dark spots on the back and sides, and large dark spots on the high dorsal fin. The lifestyle of the grayling is similar to that of the brown trout.

Within the republic, grayling inhabits cold-water streams with high oxygen content in the Neman River basin. It leads a sedentary lifestyle. Spawning begins with the spring rise in water temperature to 7-9 degrees Celsius at the end of April – beginning of May. It feeds mainly during twilight hours.

European Smelt (Kilka). It inhabits the lakes of Belarus and differs from migratory smelt in significantly smaller sizes – 6-10 cm. It is found in the Western Dvina River basin – in the lakes Drivyaty, Snudy, Strusto, Volos, Rychi (Braslav district), Dolgoye (Glubokoye district), Rudakovo (Myadel district). It is a schooling fish that stays near the shore at considerable depths. The population of smelt in the lakes of Belarus, as a fish with a short life cycle (2-3 years), is subject to sharp fluctuations due to changes in natural reproduction conditions – pollution, silting, and overgrowth of spawning grounds.

Lake Minnow. Unlike the river minnow, the lake minnow can be found in lakes heavily overgrown with vegetation; this species tolerates without

consequences of low oxygen content in water. It somewhat resembles a tench, which is why it is sometimes called a "linok" (a diminutive of tench). It plays an important role in the trophic chains of water bodies, as it serves as food for predatory fish. Spawning is hidden and occurs from May to July.

Common barbel. A semi-migratory fish of the carp family, reaching a length of 40-60 cm and a mass of 2-3 kg. It inhabits the bottom, predominantly stony-sandy, and leads a mainly nocturnal lifestyle. It undertakes significant spawning migrations. It is found in the Neman, Viliya, and Western Bug rivers and their tributaries. The Dnieper barbel is found in the Dnieper River and its tributaries – Berezina, Drut, Pripyat, and Sozh.

The main factors limiting the barbel population are river pollution and increased water turbidity. To restore stocks, artificial reproduction is necessary.

Vimba bream. Considered a migratory fish that enters rivers for spawning from the estuary sections of seas; however, within Belarus, it is a typically freshwater form. It is found in the basins of the Western Bug, Neman, and Western Dvina rivers, and the upper reaches of the Dnieper. It reaches a length of 50 cm and a mass of 3 kg. Due to its high requirements for spawning grounds, the vimba bream undertakes long migrations to the upper reaches of rivers in early spring. The main measure to increase its numbers is the melioration of natural and the creation of artificial spawning grounds.

Fishing for Red Data Book species is prohibited. In case of unintentional catch of such fish, it should be released back into the water.