Žeimena (Meškerinė)

The Žeimena Subdivision has been operating since 1964. It was established in the former Žeimena fisheries farm, whose location and name were chosen deliberately. The Žeimena River is one of the cleanest and coldest rivers in Eastern Lithuania, flowing through the well-known village of Meškerinė.

When the subdivision began its activities, it was decided to supply water to the excavated ponds by pumps through a specially excavated and concreted canal. Within several years, more than 400 hectares of ponds were created on an area of 538 hectares. These ponds were unique because the soil in the area is sandy and water quickly infiltrates into the ground, requiring powerful pumps to operate around the clock. However, the project was later assessed as an error in the selection of pond sites and the construction of hydrotechnical structures.

The enterprise initially bred carp and crucian carp, and later also bred pike and rainbow trout. These fish were supplied both to other fisheries enterprises and to owners of private ponds.

In 1965–1972, successful trials in the breeding and rearing of salmon and sea trout were carried out by the founder and director of the enterprise, Algirdas Rusakevičius. He artificially spawned these fish and incubated their eggs. Sea trout juveniles reared in freshwater until the age of two years weighed up to 200 grams. Salmon were reared until sexual maturity, after which their eggs were collected and incubated. Unfortunately, after the director moved to work at the Fisheries Board, these activities were discontinued.

In 1975–1982, the enterprise operated as a unit of the Arnionys fisheries farm and later became independent again.

In 1998–2010, the enterprise was headed by Antanas Vaznys. From the beginning of this period until 2002, with the assistance of Danish specialists, a salmonid fish facility was built, including an incubator and breeding and rearing facilities. In 2006, a separate facility for the breeding and rearing of sea trout was constructed. This led to the establishment of the first salmonid fish hatchery in Lithuania, operating with a recirculating water supply system and new borehole water treatment technologies. Qualified specialists with higher education were employed to operate these facilities.

In 2010, highly unprofitable pond aquaculture was discontinued. Only the salmon and sea trout breeding and rearing facilities remained in the subdivision. Each year, up to 0.5 million fish of these species are reared and released into inland waters. In recent years, the breeding of brown trout and grayling has also been expanded.

Since 2010, the enterprise has held the status of the Žeimena Subdivision of the Pisciculture Division of the Fisheries Service, which it retains to this day.

Through joint efforts, the international programme for the restoration of salmonid fish resources was successfully implemented, and as a result these fish were removed from the Red Book.

Žeimena, panoramic view, 2021