Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Brittany and Lower-Normandy: Preliminary Observations on the General Characteristics of Adults

This paper presents some characteristics (length, weight and age) of adult Atlantic salmon in rivers of Brittany. The data were derived from 1,578 fish caught mainly by rod and line; the remainder being from net catches in estuaries and small samples taken outside the fishing season. The bulk of the fish spent 1 or 2 years in freshwater before smoltifying. Those fish becoming smolts at the end of 1 year were the most numerous (54%). The majority of the fish sampled were spring fish (82.4%). Very few summer fish were identified and those found were mainly grilse. The high proportion of spring fish in the sample is due to the high proportion of rod-caught fish. Probably a complete census over the year would show a larger proportion of grilse and summer fish as these are not subject to heavy rod-fishing the season being closed at the beginning of June. The relationship between sea age and river age and the influence of freshwater life upon the sea life were tested in four rivers. It seems probable that sea life depends chiefly on the river and the year of smoltification rather than on the freshwater stage. The biometric characteristics of Brittany salmon were compared with data from some foreign rivers. The angling exploitation of the spring Atlantic salmon in Brittany and the lack of data about summer migrations are discussed in regard to the future of this stock.     

Evaluation of Fluorescent Pigment Marking of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L.) and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Fish farm and field trials have been conducted into the longevity and reliability of fluorescent pigment spray marking on brown trout and Atlantic salmon. These have shown that the technique produces high quality marks for a minimum of 20 months for brown trout and 7 months for Atlantic salmon. In addition a minimum size of 6.8 cm for the successful marking of brown trout fry has been established. High mortalities were found when the technique was used on fish which were subject to stress. Causes of stress are discussed and mortality rates of <1% have now been achieved.     

Comparison of population dynamics of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) in a small tributary of the River Scorff (Brittany, France)

The population dynamics of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) were compared in a small tributary of the River Scorff (Brittany, France) from spawning time to the beginning of the third growing season. The spawning and fry emergence of the two species took place at approximately the same time. In the first autumn, the densityof 0+ juveniles and settling rate from the egg stage were much higher in trout than in salmon. The emigration rate from 0+ population was much higher in trout than in salmon. The size of resident and migrating fish was always smaller in salmon than in trout, whatever the age. The low level of salmon production in the brook, compared with trout, was the result of low survival from egg to 0+ stage in autumn, combined with the small proportion of juveniles migrating after the first growing season. This was not compensated by a high number of migrants the next year. The role of physical habitat, inter-and intraspecific competition, predation and migration dependence on size and early sexual maturity is discussed. Indications are that small tributaries of the type studied are of great value for recruitment in trout but not very productive for juvenile salmon.     

Identification of Stress Sensitive Genes in Hyperthermic Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Embryos by RAP-PCR

Deformities of skeletal structures, the heart, and other organs are a recurrent problem in species used in intensive aquaculture. Elevated egg incubation temperature appears to be a high risk factor in the development of these malformations, but the causal relation has not been established. Our aim was to identify candidate genes involved in the development of heat induced deformities in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Temperature sensitive genes were isolated by RNA Arbitrarily Primed (RAP)-PCR. A total of 33 RAP-PCR products were successfully sequenced, and the expression of eight identified genes was further examined by RT-PCR from pooled samples of heat exposed embryos. Five of these genes were demonstrated to be temperature sensitive, of which four were shown to be up-regulated and one was down-regulated at elevated water temperatures. The atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) gene, which is a promising candidate for heart deformities, showed the highest level of heat induction. Three additional RAP-PCR products identified as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleprotein (hnRNP) A0, acyl CoA binding protein (ACBP) and mitochondrial (mt)-HSP70 showed up-regulated mRNA expression in response to elevated water temperature. The single down-regulated gene was identified as an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) homolog of the cysteine and tyrosine-rich 1 (CYYR1) gene. This study demonstrated that a temperature elevation of only 4 °C during the early stages of the organogenesis in Atlantic salmon induce altered expression of a number of genes, which are candidates for the development of heat induced deformities.     

Behavioural transition during the estuarine migration of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolt

Abstract –  Ultrasonic telemetry and hydrodynamic modelling were used to study the migratory behaviour of 54 wild Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) smolt captured in freshwater during their downstream migration and tracked in 2 years through a shallow estuary system. A high-density, fixed array of receivers provided detailed spatial and temporal resolution of behaviour in the second year of study. Smolt migration in the river occurred mostly at night and downstream migration was slower during the day. In the estuary, smolt moved seaward on ebbing tides and landward on flooding tides. The effect of current velocity was greater during the night than during the day. We documented for the first time that current velocity and diurnal period only accounted for approximately one-third of the variation in smolt ground speeds in the estuary, indicating that smolt movements were far less passive than previously reported. Smolt energetic status had no effect on smolt swimming behaviour or migratory performance. With an increase in salinity, smolt seaward movements during flooding tides were more frequent, and overall seaward ground velocity increased. The increase in salinity experienced by the smolt during their migration through the leading edge of saltwater intrusion thus induced a behavioural transition from a more passive, fluvial migration to a more active- and seaward-oriented migration.     

Protein metabolism during sexual maturation in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L)

Body composition and fractional rates of protein synthesis (percentage of the protein mass synthesized per day) were determined in female Atlantic salmon returning to the River Tay, Scotland in July and in October after a 95 day period without food, during which time the animals became sexually mature. During the 95 day period of starvation/sexual maturation the ventricle and red muscle remained as a constant proportion of fresh weight whereas the liver, gill and ovary increased and the stomach and white muscle decreased. Fractional rates of protein synthesis increased markedly in the liver, stomach and ovary during the period of starvation/sexual maturation. In the gill, ventricle and white muscle fractional protein synthesis rates increased slightly or remained constant. From the estimated rates of protein loss or gain in the various tissues it is concluded that there is considerable protein turnover and repartitioning of amino acids during the period of starvation and sexual maturation. The absolute rate of protein synthesis rates in the ovary indicates that this tissue made the largest contribution to the energy and amino acid demands of the fish, whilst most of the amino acids required for maturation of the ovary were derived from white muscle, principally as the result of increased muscle protein degradation.     

Transport stress in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.): anaesthesia and recovery

The effects of metomidate anaesthesia on levels of plasma cortisol, glucose, haematocrit and chloride in Atlantic salmon (1⁺) (Salmo salar L.), after a 2‐h transport and during a 48‐h recovery period were investigated. The use of metomidate anaesthesia during transport led to a reduced release of cortisol and significantly lower levels of plasma cortisol after a 48‐h recovery period. Plasma glucose did not return to basal level after a 48‐h recovery period, indicating that even longer recovery may be needed for the fish to return to a pre‐stress state. The results show that metomidate anaesthesia combined with a recovery period lessens the stress burden imposed by hauling and transport.     

Lake-use by juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and other salmonids in northern Norway

Abstract– The utilization of lakes, and inlet and outlet streams by juvenile Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.), brown trout ( Salmo trutta L.) and Arctic charr ( Salvelinus alpinus (L.), were investigated in 16 watercourses northern Norway, all known to inhabit salmon stocks. In lakes, fish were caught by small mesh size gill nets, while in rivers fish were caught electrofishing. In the shallow littoral (0-3 m depth) there were juvenile salmon in 15 of 19 investigated lakes, juvenile trout in 17 and juvenile charr in seven. Trout dominated significantly in numbers in the shallow littoral of seven lakes, while salmon and charr dominated in three lakes each. When trout and salmon were frequent in the shallow littoral, charr was usually not present in this habitat, but were found in the profundal zone in most of the lakes. Atlantic salmon parr utilized both shallow and deep lakes, and used both stones and macrophytic vegetation as shelter. The utilization of lakes by salmon parr seemed to be closely related to utilization of small inlet streams for spawning. In most inlet and outlet streams salmon dominated over trout in numbers, while charr were absent. This is the first documentation of lake-use by naturally occurring salmon parr in Scandinavia.     

International management of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, 1984–1994

Abstract  The development of distant water fisheries at West Greenland and in the Northern Norwegian Sea during the 1960s and, more recently, in the Faroese zone, led to the establishment, in 1984, of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO). This paper summarizes the progress made in the 10 years since this Organization was established towards achieving its goals of conservation, restoration, enhancement and rational management of salmon, Salmo salar L., stocks. Agreements on regulatory measures have reduced the proportion of the total catch taken by the distant water fisheries and, in the case of the West Greenland fishery, management is now firmly based on scientific advice. The stability created by these regulations has allowed NASCO to address the broader areas of conservation called for under the Convention and international action has been taken to address a number of threats to the resource, including the impacts of aquaculture, introductions and transfers, and fishing in international waters by non-contracting parties. These actions are described and the paper concludes that NASCO has a significant role to play in the future, both through continued regulation of the fisheries and by promoting international cooperation to address these broader threats to the resource.     

Impact of stocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) on habitat use by the wild population

Laffaille P. Impact of stocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) on habitat use by the wild population.
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2011: 20: 67–73. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – We investigated the summer habitat occupied by populations of young‐of‐the‐year wild and stocked (farmed populations released into the native range) Atlantic salmon under allopatric and sympatric conditions. Under allopatric conditions, farmed and wild salmon occupied habitats with the same characteristics. The salmon preferentially occupied the riffle areas. However, under sympatric conditions, the fish occupied meso‐ and micro‐habitats with different characteristics. Wild salmon avoided habitats used by farmed salmon and preferred glide areas with considerable vegetation cover. This study suggests that differences in the pattern of habitats used by young Atlantic salmon were both size‐ and origin‐dependent and may result from intra‐species competition between farmed and wild populations. Given that stocking with farmed Atlantic salmon is carried out intensively to enhance recreational angling or to conserve salmon populations, this study warns that this can have a negative impact on the extant wild Atlantic salmon population.     

Resource partitioning between lake-dwelling Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr, brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (L.))

Abstract – Resource partitioning between Atlantic salmon parr, brown trout and Arctic charr was studied throughout the ice-free season in a north Norwegian lake. Juvenile salmon and trout (≤160 mm) utilized the littoral zone and juvenile charr the profundal, while adult trout and charr (>160 mm) were found in both. Juvenile salmon and trout had a similar diet, although trichopteran larvae were more important for the trout and chironomid pupae and three-spined sticklebacks for the salmon parr. Small salmon and trout parr (≤120 mm) had a higher diet overlap than larger parr (121–160 mm). The feeding habits of adult trout were similar to that of juvenile trout, but the former took larger prey items. At the population level, both salmon and trout were generalistic feeders with a broad diet, but at the individual level, both species had specialized on a single or a few prey categories. Juvenile charr were segregated from salmon and trout in both habitat and food utilization; they had a narrow diet consisting of chironomids and zooplankton, possibly reflecting their confinement to the profundal habitat which have a low diversity of potential prey. Larger charr also took zoobenthos and sticklebacks in the littoral zone. ^Note     

Thermal habitat experienced by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) kelts in coastal Newfoundland waters

Thermal habitat was recorded by data storage tags (DSTs) applied to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) kelts during their seaward migration in the spring of 1998 at enumeration facilities in Highlands River, Humber River, Western Arm Brook, and Campbellton River, Newfoundland. In total, 139 DSTs were applied and data were downloaded from eleven of the recovered tags. The recovered tags had been applied at Highlands, Campbellton and Western Arm rivers and recovered in the coastal waters of Newfoundland and Québec and at the enumeration facilities at Highlands and Campbellton rivers. Water temperatures experienced by the fish were recorded for periods of 62–118 days at resolutions of 15–30 min. The data from the sea record on the DSTs were analysed for temperature patterns in relation to migration behaviour and diurnal movement of the fish. A variety of patterns were exhibited on the temperature records suggesting that the fish were behaving in various ways at different times. For Campbellton and Highlands fish over the course of some 24 h periods, night‐time temperatures changed little and were among the highest daily temperatures experienced by the fish, whereas daytime temperatures often showed dramatic and frequent shifts in temperature presumably as the fish rapidly and frequently changed depth. For the Western Arm Brook fish, rapid fluctuations in temperature occurred sometimes during the day and night without a consistent diurnal pattern. We also considered large‐scale aspects of the data by examining oceanographic conditions in relation to the temperatures recorded by the tags.     

Protein-nitrogen flux and protein growth efficiency of individual Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Protein-nitrogen flux (the proportions of consumed and absorbed protein-nitrogen partitioned into protein synthesis and growth) was examined in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Salmon were held in groups and fed high or low rations or starved. Individual food consumption rates were measured using radiography. Fish varied widely in protein growth efficiency (protein growth divided by protein consumption), but this did not correlate with consumption rate, digestive capacity (as measured by absorption efficiency, trypsin levels and pyloric caecal size) or feeding hierarchy rank. Protein synthesis rates, measured in whole-animals, were linearly correlated with protein consumption and assimilation. There was a significant correlation between protein growth efficiency and the efficiency of retention of synthesised proteins. The capacity for protein synthesis and RNA activity were positively correlated with rates of food consumption and growth but were not correlated with protein growth efficiency. It was concluded that individual differences in protein growth efficiency related to differences in synthesis retention efficiency, but not to differences in the capacity for protein synthesis, RNA activity, digestive capacity or feeding hierarchy rank.     

Sea lice infestation rates on wild and escaped farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) entering the Magaguadavic River, New Brunswick

A monitoring program for the prevalence and intensity of sea lice infestations of wild and escaped farmed salmon has been underway on the Magaguadavic River since 1992. Fish are screened in a fish ladder trap located in freshwater a short distance above the head of tide. No trends with time were evident in observed sea lice burdens, and in all years the majority of salmon, both wild and escapees, had no or low levels of infestation with sea lice. In the spring of 2002, 23 landlocked salmon moving to sea from the Magaguadavic River were acoustically tagged. Two fish returned to the river after a brief period of residence in Passamaquoddy Bay, with significant dermal damage from sea lice. These fish were tracked to areas close to commercial salmon farms.     

Absorption of glucose, amino acids, and dipeptides by the intestines of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Rates of glucose, amino acid and dipeptide absorption by the intestine of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) were measured in vitro at 10 °C as functions of concentration and region using intact tissues (everted sleeve method). Salmon (weight range 300–1300 g) fed a commercial, extruded salmon feed, were kept at 12–13 °C in freshwater. Maximum rates (V _max) of glucose and dipeptide transport were low compared to most amino acid V _max values. There was a declining proximal-to-distal gradient of absorption along the post-gastric intestinal tract. A saturable component of absorption was not evident for proline and glycyl-proline in the distal intestine, and glycyl-sarcosine in any region. `Apparent diffusion', which may include low affinity, high capacity carrier systems and carrier-independent influx, appears to account for the majority of total uptake at higher concentrations of amino acids and dipeptides. There was competition between the dipeptides for transporter sites in the pyloric ceca and mid intestine, suggesting a common carrier. There was also indication of hydrolysis of these dipeptides by brush border membrane enzymes.     

Photoperiod and temperature affects seasonal ovarian gene expression of p450 aromatase and gonadotropin receptors in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) broodstock

Photoperiod and temperature modulated the seasonal pattern of ovarian gene expression of P450 aromatase, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone receptor and Luteinizing Hormone receptor in Atlantic salmon broodstock.     

Effects of feeding Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) imbalanced levels of lysine and arginine

Two experiments were performed to study the effects of imbalanced levels of arginine and lysine in diets of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) with Zein as the major dietary protein source. In the first experiment, the effects of high levels of lysine on marginal levels of arginine and high levels of arginine on marginal levels of lysine were compared in fish fed these amino acids at either marginal or high levels. Dietary contents of arginine/lysine were 30.0/29.4, 17.0/29.4, 30.0/14.4 and 17.2/14.5 g kg^–1, respectively. In the second experiment, fish were fed increasing levels of lysine in a diet containing arginine at the requirement level. Dietary levels of arginine/lysine in the second experiment were 23.0/17.0, 23.0/34.3, and 23.0/46.4 g kg^–1.
Atlantic salmon fed marginal levels of lysine showed better growth and feed utilization when fed diets supplemented with high levels of arginine. Fish fed diets marginal in arginine exhibited increased growth and feed utilization when fed diets supplemented with high levels of dietary lysine. Increasing dietary lysine did not significantly affect growth in fish fed arginine at the requirement level. Increased growth in fish fed high dietary arginine levels might be explained by increased tissue concentrations of ornithine acting as a precursor for in situ synthesis of polyamines. A slight correlation between specific growth rate (SGR) and concentration of spermidine in muscle and between condition factor and concentration of total polyamines in muscle was seen. Abdominal injection of U-C¹⁴ arginine may indicate lysine inhibition of arginine availability in muscle tissue.