Condition and performance of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): effects of rearing practices on hatchery fish and comparison with wild fish

Abstract

This study examined the effects of various modifications of rearing practices on hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fingerlings and compared condition and performance of hatchery fingerlings (age 0+) and yearlings (age 1+) with those of wild-reared Atlantic salmon. Reduced fish density (and increased ration) in rearing tanks promoted increased growth and condition factor and significant changes in muscle composition, including increased muscle lipid content and glycolytic enzyme activity, specfically phosphofructokinase and lactate dehydrogenase. However, these changes had no effect on anaerobic capacity. Moreover, swimming performance was poorer in fingerlings reared at low compared with normal density. Raising the water velocity from 0 to 4 cm ·s-1(~0.7 body length ·s-1) had overall beneficial effects, most notably increased endurance in fixed velocity sprint tests and a reduction of ion loss in an epinephrine challenge test. Increasing velocity to 9 cm ·s-1had no further effects. Wild fingerlings were larger with better fin quality and superior anaerobic capacity and swim performance. Even larger differences were seen between hatchery-reared and wild yearlings. It is concluded that significant changes in morphology, physiology, and muscle biochemistry of juvenile Atlantic salmon can be brought about by changing hatchery rearing conditions, but these changes are of limited effectiveness in reducing the difference between hatchery-reared and wild fish.