History: In 1938, salmon fry named after President Pätsi were released into the Pärnu River

On 31 May 1938, a ceremonial event was held at the Sindi fish hatchery during which 90,000 salmon fry were released into the Pärnu River. Every tenth fry bore the name of President Konstantin Pätsi. The event drew fishermen and enthusiasts from across the Pärnu region.

On 31 May 1938, the banks of the Pärnu River near the Sindi fish hatchery were unusually lively. Fishermen and other interested parties had gathered from Pärnu and the surrounding region to witness a solemn ceremony – 90,000 salmon fry were being released into the Pärnu River.

Special significance was added by the fact that every tenth fry bore the name of the head of state, Konstantin Pätsi. This symbolic gesture emphasised the importance of the head of state in supporting fisheries and the replenishment of natural resources, lending greater solemnity to the event.

Such fish stock replenishment ceremonies were an important part of fisheries policy in Estonia at the time. The release of salmon fry into the river was not merely a practical step in preserving fish stocks, but also a public event that raised awareness of the need to conserve natural resources.

The Pärnu River has historically been an important salmon river, where fish stock conservation has demanded attention for decades. The 1938 ceremony is one of the most memorable chapters in this story, uniting state symbolism with nature conservation traditions.