Sea Growth and Time of Migration of Anadromous Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) from the Vardnes River, in Northern Norway

Abstract

The annual seaward migration of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from the Vardnes River, northern Norway usually takes place early in summer, between the end of May and the beginning of June. A period of very fast growth was recorded immediately following the entry of char into the sea. Mean daily growth rates of both small and large char decreased with increasing length of time spent at sea, particularly after the end of June. Almost no further increase in length took place in the sea after the beginning of July. Sea temperature was low during this early growth period, rising to above 10 °C during the period when sea char growth declined. Char appeared to be especially well adapted to low temperatures, since their growth rate during this early period was from two to four times faster than that recorded for sympatric sea trout (Salmo trutta). The results support the hypothesis that sea temperature may be one of the factors that control the southern distribution of anadromous Arctic char.