Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V84
Höfundar / Authors: Fia Finn (1), Friðþjófur Árnason (1), Sigurður Óskar Helgason (1), Hlynur Bárðarson (1), Guðni Guðbergsson (1)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Hafrannsóknastofnun
Kynnir / Presenter: Fia Finn
Sea trout (Salmo trutta) is a key species in Icelandic rivers and lakes, yet little is known about how they use Icelandic estuarine and coastal habitats once they leave freshwater. The Elliðaár–Elliðavatn system in Reykjavík has been monitored for more than a century, but until now there has been no clear picture of how the Sea trout depend on nearshore areas. Using acoustic telemetry data collected in 2017, 2018, and 2024 during environmental impact assessments, we are able to show how trout move between the river and surrounding coastal habitats such as Leiruvogur, Þerneyarsund, and Blikastaðakró. Similar areas have, in other studies, been found to be used for feeding, as refuge and to be important transitional zones making them essential for the survival and growth of Sea trout populations. However, these specific areas are also located in one of the most heavily developed regions of Iceland and overlap with planned infrastructure projects. Our findings highlight the ecological importance of these habitats and demonstrate the need to consider them in future planning. More broadly, this study shows the value of acoustic telemetry as a tool for monitoring fish in Iceland and the opportunity to develop it further for management and conservation.