Between December and January, the Premilcuore Ichthyogenic Center continues, as it does every year, operations related to the Mediterranean trout spawning season, a key activity of the LIFE Streams project. Work begins with a broodstock selected according to rigorous genetic criteria, essential to ensuring a high level of species purity. An added value of the project is the origin of these fish, coming from native populations within the Park, a key element in the ecological recovery of local waterways.
The goal is to gradually repopulate streams where Mediterranean trout has been replaced over time by a non-native species, the Atlantic brown trout. To maintain high genetic variability in the offspring, a targeted reproductive technique is adopted: the eggs of each female are divided into multiple batches, from two to five depending on the size of the animal, and each batch is fertilized by a different male. This creates genetically diverse half-sibling families, increasing the resilience of the future population.
The fertilization process, divided into well-defined phases ranging from the selection of individuals ready for reproduction to the milking, from the artificial fertilization of the gametes to the storage of the eggs in the hatchery, requires careful preparation, great attention, and an empathetic approach marked by respect for the animals involved. These are wild-caught trout, particularly sensitive to handling and stress.
To date, approximately 13,000 eggs have been obtained. Given the facility’s capacity, which allows for the growth of approximately 6,000 trout to a size of 3-4 cm by June, the surplus will be sown at an early fry stage with reabsorbed yolk sacs. These operations directly contribute to the repopulation of streams already cleared of exotic species and the gradual restoration of natural balances.
The long-term goal is to restore Mediterranean trout to the protected area’s waterways where their historical presence is documented, benefiting the entire river ecosystem of the Park.
Photo by Andrea Bonavita
