Nutritive value of partially dehulled and extruded sunflower meal for post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in sea water

This study determined the digestibility of protein in partially dehulled sunflower meal (SFM) and then, as the main goal, the nutritive value of high‐temperature extruded (≤149°C) partially dehulled SFM (SFM_EX) for post‐smolt Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in sea water. The digestibility study was conducted using the settling column approach (‘Guelph system’) for faeces collection as described by Hajen, Higgs, Beames and Dosanjh. In the nutritive value study, triplicate groups of 50 salmon (mean weight ～116 g) in 4000‐L outdoor fibreglass tanks supplied with 25–40 L min^?1, filtered, oxygenated (dissolved oxygen, 7.0–8.5 mg L^?1), 11–12°C sea water (salinity, 29–31 g L^?1), were fed twice daily to satiation one of five steam‐pelleted dry diets that contained 422 g of digestible protein (DP) kg^?1 and ～16.4 MJ of digestible energy (DE) kg^?1 on a dry weight basis for 84 days. Low‐temperature‐dried anchovy meal (LT‐AM) comprised 68.2% of the basal diet protein whereas in four test diets, SFM_EX progressively replaced up to 33.0% of the DP provided by LT‐AM in the basal diet (SFM_EX≤271 g kg^?1 of dry matter). Sunflower meal had 87.9% DP. Diet treatment did not significantly affect specific growth rate (1.39–1.45% day^?1), feed efficiency (1.19–1.26), percentage of dietary protein retained (45.8–47.5), gross energy utilization (46.5–49.4%), per cent survival (96.0–99.3) or terminal whole body and muscle proximate compositions. We conclude that SFM_EX can comprise ≥271 g kg^?1 of the dry diet or ≥22.7% of the digestible dietary protein of post‐smolt Atlantic salmon in seawater without any adverse effects on their performance.     

Use of stable isotopes to distinguish farmed from wild Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar

Abstract –  Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen ( δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N) were examined in wild and aquaculture origin Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar , to evaluate their utility to identify escaped farmed fish. Samples of muscle tissue obtained from wild Conne River, Newfoundland, salmon were significantly more enriched in nitrogen ( δ ¹⁵N: mean = 12.75; SD ± 0.38‰) but depleted in lipid corrected carbon ( δ ¹³C': mean = −20.51; SD ± 0.23‰) by comparison with aquaculture specimens obtained from Bay d'Espoir, Newfoundland ( δ ¹⁵N = 10.96 ± 0.19‰;  δ ¹³C' = −19.25 ± 0.17‰) resulting in a complete separation of the two groups. Aquaculture specimens differed in δ ¹³C' from analyses of commercial salmon diet by 0.24‰, within the enrichment range associated with trophic transfers, while the δ ¹⁵N values in salmon muscle were enriched by 5.01‰. Although differences occurred in direct comparisons of white muscle and adipose tissue ( N  = 49), the average δ ¹³C' and δ ¹⁵N signatures varied in absolute amounts by only 0.5‰, supporting the use of adipose tissue as a nonlethal means to determine isotopic signatures of Atlantic salmon.     

Enhanced production of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in integrated open-water cultivation with Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

Survivorship and performance was investigated for two size classes of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus grown adjacent to open-water Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) cultivation on the north-west coast of Scotland. Juvenile P. lividus were maintained for 12 months at 0 m, 50 m and 2.5 km from the mariculture activity. The sea urchins at the 0 m station showed higher survivorship than at the 50 m and 2.5 km stations and had significantly greater test diameter than at the 50 m station. Only urchins at 0 m developed gonads and, although small, these were of acceptable or excellent colouration in terms of their marketability. Adult P. lividus were maintained for 3 months at 0 m and 15 m from the mariculture activity, either with or without additional macroalgae Laminaria spp. Sea urchins at the 0 m station and fed additional macroalgae showed higher gonadal growth than sea urchins at the 15 m station held without additional food. Gonad colouration in the adult urchins, irrespective of the treatment, was acceptable or excellent. The 0 m station also received significantly greater quantities of particulate organic matter (POM) than the other stations in both the juvenile and adult experiments. At the 0 m station, the presence of the fatty acid 22:1n-11 and elevated levels of the long chain n-3 fatty acid DHA 22:6n-3 in the gonadal tissue of the urchins confirmed the consumption of fish farm derived POM and highlighted the potential human health benefits from consuming sea urchin roe.The results show that P. lividus can thrive in the salmon culture environment and suggests that the integration of P. lividus with Atlantic salmon can provide a viable means to culture this species, even at this northerly latitude. Salmon-sea urchin co-culture would enable fish farms to diversify into producing a second highly valuable product and would reduce the increasing worldwide pressure of sea urchin fisheries on wild stocks.     

Factors influencing the yield of brown trout, Salmo trutta m. lacustris L., in northern Finnish lakes

Abstract Lake-to-lake variation in brown trout, Salmo trutta m. lacustris L., yield from stocking was examined in 34 lakes in northern Finland. The trout were mainly stocked as 2–3-year-old fish. Catch statistics were compiled with information on water quality, water level fluctuations, fishing effort and lake geomorphology. Absolute brown trout yields (kgha^-1) increased with increasing stocking rate, but there was an indication of non-linearity at higher stocking densities. Relative yields (kg per thousand trout released) were highest at low stocking rates. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine the best predictive model for lake-to-lake variability in brown trout yields. Seventeen measured regressands were used initially, and then replaced with scores obtained in a principal component analysis of highly correlated water quality variables and species-specific fish yields. Three major determinants of brown trout yields in these lakes were found in both analyses: fish community, stocking rate and fishing effort. Brown trout yields from stocking were higher in lakes with proportionally high yields of vendace or vendace and whitefish and proportionally low yields of pike.     

Comparative feeding, growth and movements of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr from riverine and estuarine environments

Abstract– The diet composition, movcments and growth of Atlantic salmon parr rearing in the estuary of Western Arm Brook, Newfoundland were compared with those of parr from riverine habitats over 2 years. Estuarine parr consumed a variety of prey, including many freshwater taxa (mainly insects), which indicated a dependence on freshwater drift from the river. Prey of estuarine origin (amphipods and sticklebacks) were increasingly consumed between spring and autumn. Prey volume per fish and number of prey per fish increased significantly for estuarine parr between spring and autumn, suggesting an improvement in food availability. Riverine parr, however, realized a general decrease in both parameters between spring and autumn. The recapture of 16% ( n = 131) of the 829 parr marked in the estuary in 1987 and 1988 indicated a directed movement toward the head of the estuary and river mouth, as also suggested by the diet analysis. Parr from outer estuary sites were very mobile compared with parr from the estuary site closest to the river mouth, which behaved more like parr in the river proper in displaying strong site fidelity. Movement patterns of parr were primarily along the shoreline. Individual growth rates were highly variable in both environments but especially in the estuary. The mean growth of estuarine parr was 0.23 mm. d⁻¹ between May and October with some evidence of fastest growth having occurred in late spring and early summer (approx. 0.4 mm. d⁻¹); mean growth rate of riverine parr was slower, at 0.12 mm. d⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context that estuarine rearing by salmon parr represents an alternative life-history tactic for the species in river systems in eastern Canada.     

Effects of triploidy on the Caspian salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta caspius</Emphasis> haematology

The aim of this study was a comparison of key haematological features of diploid (2n) and triploid (3n) Caspian salmon (Salmo trutta caspius). Morphometric indices of erythrocytes were determined on blood smears by light microscopy. Triploidy significantly (P < 0.001) increased all morphometric indices measured in the erythrocytes including cell size, cell surface area, and cell volume. The increase in cell size was larger for the major (27%) axis than for the minor (22%) axis, thus making erythrocytes of 3n Caspian salmon more ellipsoidal. The estimated increase in erythrocyte nuclear volume (87%) was bigger than the theoretical expected 50% increase. Haematological indices were measured manually by hemocytometry. Triploids had lower numbers of red blood cells (RBC: 1,120,000 cells/mL in 2n vs. 700,000 cells/mL in 3n; P < 0.001) but they were larger in size (mean erythrocytic volume [MEV]: 363.1 nm³ in 2n vs. 483.3 nm³ in 3n; P < 0.001). The decrease in RBC number was not compensated by the increase in MEV and, thus, triploidy affected the haematocrit (Hct: 38.8% in 2n vs. 33.06% in 3n; P < 0.05). Total blood hemoglobin concentration was lower in triploid fish (Hb: 9.9 g/dL in 2n vs. 8.9 g/dL in 3n; P < 0.05). In contrast, mean erythrocytic hemoglobin (MEH: 95 μg in 2n vs. 133.2 μg in 3n; P < 0.001) was higher for 3n Caspian salmon as a result of their larger erythrocytes, although MEH concentration (MEHC: 0.26 g/dL in 2n vs. 0.27 g/dL in 3n) did not significantly differ (P > 0.05). White blood cell (WBC) counts (lymphocytes and neutrophiles) were measured and WBC/RBC ratios were calculated. There were no significant differences in WBC (15,710 cells/mL in 2n vs. 12,683 cells/mL in 3n; P > 0.05), lymphocytes, and neutrophils as %WBC as well as WBC/RBC ratios between two ploidy levels (P > 0.05). Triploid Caspian salmon showed higher erythrocyte abnormalities such as ‘twisted’, ‘tailed’, and ‘anucleated’ cells as well as high portions of immature RBC in blood smears in comparison with diploids (P < 0.001).     

Variation of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) body composition along sedimentary links*

Johnston P, Bergeron NE. Variation of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) body composition along sedimentary links.
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 187–196. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – The objective of this study was to determine the proximate body composition of juvenile Atlantic salmon along the sequence of aquatic habitat types created by longitudinal changes in the riverbed substrate of two rivers (i.e., sedimentary links units). Interesting trends in the body composition were observed but our initial hypothesis, that fish of the upstream sections have higher energy content, was nevertheless not verified. No common longitudinal pattern was detected in the body composition (water, lipid, energy density) along the studied rivers. Trends in the body constituents were different between age‐classes and rivers, whereas they were highly variable within‐ and among‐samples. There was however a common trend in the pattern of variations, with the coefficient of variations increasing in the downstream direction for almost all constituents, age‐classes and rivers. Potential abiotic and biotic factors that might have contributed to these observations are discussed.     

Changes in epidemiological patterns of sea lice infestation on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland between 1996 and 2006

Analyses of a unique database containing sea lice records over an 11 year period provide evidence of changing infestation patterns in Scotland. The data, collected from more than 50 commercial Atlantic salmon farms, indicate that both species of sea lice commonly found in Scotland, Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus, have declined on farms over the past decade. Reductions for both species have been particularly marked since 2001 when more effective veterinary medicines became available. Treatment data were also available in the database and these show a growing trend towards the use of the in-feed medication emamectin benzoate (Slice), particularly in the first year of the salmon production cycle. However, this trend towards single product use has not been sustained in 2006, the latest year for which data are available. There is some evidence of region to region variation within Scotland with the Western Isles experiencing higher levels of infestation. However, compared to the levels observed between 1996 and 2000, all regions have benefited from reduced lice infestation, with the overall pattern showing a particular reduction in the second and third quarters of the second year of production.     

The effects of lakes on growth in yearling brown trout (Salmo trutta L.)

Abstract– Data from the Swedish Electrofishing Register were used to study the effects of lakes on the growth of yearling (0+) brown trout in outlet streams. It was found that growth increased close to lakes. On average, the length of the longest yearlings was 10% greater 0-100 m downstream from lakes as compared with more than 1 km downstream. Growth enhancement was most pronounced downstream from large lakes. This was exemplified with maximum yearling lengths in September in inlet streams (maximum yearlings 50-100 mm) and outlet streams (65-130 mm) of Lake Stora Le (area 200 km²), and inlet streams (50-75 mm) and outlet streams (65-95 mm) of Lake Anten (area 18 km²). It is suggested that this is a combined effect of both increased water temperature and outflow of lake seston. The growth pattern found was not correlated to population abundance or to the abundance of competitors or predators.     

A comparison of catchment based salmonid habitat survey techniques in three river systems in Northern Ireland

Three survey techniques, a fully quantitative, multivariate study; a shorter or truncated fully quantitative method and a Geographical Information System (GIS) based, semi-quantitative, survey technique, were developed to assess in-river salmonid habitats on a catchment wide basis. These methods were tested and compared on three river systems in Northern Ireland: the Blackwater, the Bush and the Main. The research indicated that the fully quantitative method generated an accurate habitat database but required a high investment in time and resources to complete. The truncated survey approach often produced an inaccurate habitat database. The semi-quantitative technique generated a more accurate habitat dataset with greater productivity and efficiency for the resources invested in the survey.