Feeding,growth and environmental requirements of Arctic charr: a review of aquaculture potential

Interest in the cultivation of Arctic charr arose during the 1970s, and research into charr farming was instigated in the Nordic countries and in Canada. Most work has been conducted on fish from anadromous populations, although land-locked freshwater populations of Arctic charr have also received attention. Research has also been carried out in the British Isles and in the alpine regions of central Europe, where land-locked populations of charr. Small-scale commercial farming is now carried out in several countries of northern Europe and North America, and charr are reared for restocking purposes in a number of countries.Growth of charr is rapid during the early freshwater rearing stages, and quite good rates of growth can be achieved at low water temperatures. Growth may be submaximal if charr are reared in systems designed for other salmonids, and problems may arise when charr are held at low stocking densities. Growth and food conversion can be improved by exposing the fish to water currents, forcing them to swim at moderate speeds. Growth in seawater has been reported as being highly variable, probably as a result of the use of inappropriate rearing techniques and owing to the seasonal changes in the hypo-osmoregulatory ability of the charr.Prospects for aquaculture development and areas requiring further research effort are briefly discussed.