Timing and Relative Intensity of Size-Selective Mortality of Juvenile Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) During Early Sea Life

Abstract

Available evidence indicates that mortality of juvenile salmon during early sea life is high and probably size dependent. I used scale analysis to determine the timing and relative intensity of size-selective mortality in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) during early sea life. Significant size-selective mortality could be demonstrated only over the time period that the fish were laying down circuli 2–4 on their scales. The relative intensity of mortality for different sizes of fish suggested that mortality was strongly size selective over the size range 45–55 mm fork length. No particular mortality agent could be identified, but the size range involved corresponds with the size at which chum salmon move from very shallow water and nearshore habitat to open water pelagic habitat.Key words: size-selective mortality, salmon, early sea life