Description
Kitkan viisas PDO is used for vendace, white fish (Coregonus albula), caught in the lakes of the Koillismaa highlands.
Production Area
The geographical area of Kitkan Viisas PDO is within the river basins of the Koutajoki and Kemijoki highland catchment areas, located in the municipalities of Kuusamo and Posio which drain into the White Sea, excluding lakes located on the Russian border area.
Appearance and Flavour
Kitkan Viisas PDO are smaller than several other species of freshwater vendace. Their average size is between 7 cm and 9 cm depending on annual fluctuations in growth conditions. Due to their small size, the backbone of Kitkan Viisas PDO remains soft, doesn’t harden. Kitkan Viisas PDO reach the maturity at around 15 months of age. By this time, the fish are approximately 8 cm long and weigh 4-5 grams. The fish have a dark colour. Their backs are almost black, their sides are bright silver and their fins are light-coloured. One of the distinguishing features of Kitkan Viisas PDO is their lower jaw, which is significantly longer than their upper jaw and makes it easier for vendace to be distinguished from whitefish, bleak and other fish of the same size. Kitkan Viisas PDO count approximately 500.000 fish eggs in a litre of vendace roe. The spawning season is in autumn. Fish eggs undergo a state of rest during winter time developing into fish fry over a few weeks during the spring. In winter, the intestines of Kitkan Viisas PDO empty completely because of the enforced fast during the long winter, which is why it does not need to be cleaned.
Marketing
The fish must be caught in the delimited geographical area which is also where the preliminary processing must take place in order to guarantee their quality features. Preliminary processing involves cleaning and freezing the fish. When the fish is cleaned, at least the guts and gills of the vendace are removed. Optionally, the head and tail and other parts of the fish may also be removed as long as the original form of the vendace remains recognizable. When frozen, the temperature of the fish is reduced to at least -18 degrees Celsius. Kitkan Viisas PDO is sold fresh and frozen.
Distinctive Features
Kitkan Viisas PDO are significantly smaller than many other species of freshwater vendace due to the Arctic conditions of the Koillismaa highlands and the low nutrient levels of its waterways. The traditional fishing methods used in the area and the use of uncleaned vendace in winter are specifically due to the characteristics of the geographical area. The fact that Kitkan viisas do not migrate to lower waterways is due to environmental conditions in the waterways of the geographical area.
