Behavior of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) During Suspended Migration in an Estuary, Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia, Observed Visually and By Ultrasonic Tracking

Abstract

The movements of adult Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were followed in an estuary from August to November 1978 and in July and August 1979 by ultrasonic tracking. During these periods, the proportion of time spent by salmon in apparent random movement inside a small area steadily increased, reaching 97 or 98% in September and October, and then declined. This behavior was observed visually in schools of 17 to 75 salmon which showed no preference for sun or shade, were not easily disturbed, kept a constant distance from the surface associated with the halocline, and were in currents too low to measure. As the frequency of this behavior increased, average ground speed of moving fish decreased. Suspended migrations of up to [Formula: see text] mo were recorded. Salmon planted as smolts in East River and returning as adults remained almost exclusively in the East River arm of the Y-shaped estuary. Salmon favored areas having water deeper than 3 m, but showed no preference for areas deeper than 5 m inside the 3-m contour. Moving fish showed a tendency to move upstream on a rising tide and downstream on a falling tide, but these movements could be reversed by high turbine flows at the mouth of East River. A means of removing ultrasonic tags from live salmon without injury was developed.Key words: Atlantic salmon, estuary, migration, behavior, ultrasonic tracking