The effects of stocking Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in a Norwegian regulated river

Abstract  Stocking is undertaken in the River Suldalslågen, western Norway, to compensate for an estimated annual loss of 20 000 Atlantic salmon smolts, Salmo salar L., caused by regulating the river for hydropower production. The annual contribution to angling catches from stocked hatchery fish varied from 7 to 334 kg, or <15% of the total number caught. Between 160 000 and 250 000 one-summer old fish were stocked, but only between 6 and 10 (<0.005%) were recaptured as adults in the river. Recaptured stocked fish never exceeded 0.03% by number, despite smolts dominating the stocking material in recent years. It is not certain whether the slight increase in catches comes in addition to or at the expense of natural reproduction. In most years more adults were used as parent stock than were caught as offspring. The lack of positive response to stocking is possibly due to lesser age, smaller size and later migration of hatchery smolts, and that seawater tolerance of hatchery smolts is poorly developed, all factors increasing mortality at sea.     

Wild origin and enriched environment promote foraging rate and learning to forage on natural prey of captive reared Atlantic salmon parr

Abstract – After release to the wild, captive reared salmon have shown lower foraging rates on natural prey and impaired ability to avoid natural predators and thus lower survival compared with wild‐born conspecifics. Here, we examine whether captive breeding influences learning of foraging on natural prey and how enriched rearing methods may improve foraging on natural prey by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr. We reared offspring of hatchery or wild salmon of the same population in either a standard or enriched environment at production‐scale densities. The enriched environment featured submerged overhead shelter, varying water current, depth and direction and consequently alterations in food dispersion. Parr reared in the enriched environment expressed higher feeding rates, and parr of wild origin started to forage earlier on natural prey. The enriched method promoted foraging of hatchery reared parr on natural prey and is easily applicable to commercial production of salmonids for reintroduction or stock enhancement purposes.     

Development of an accurate model to predict the phenology of Atlantic salmon smolt spring migration

1. Changes in migration timing, resulting from the alteration in river continuity or the effect of climate change, can have major consequences on the population dynamics of diadromous fish. Forecasting the phenology of fish migration is thus critically important to implement management actions aimed at protecting fish during their migration.
2. In this study, an 11‐year monitoring survey of Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar) from the Ourthe River, Belgium, was analysed within a European Special Area of Conservation to improve the understanding of environment‐induced spring migration. A logistic model was fitted to forecast smolt migration and to calculate phenological indicators for management, i.e. the onset, end, and duration of migration, while accounting for the influence of photoperiod, water temperature, and hydrological conditions.
3. The results indicated that the photo‐thermal units accumulated by smolts above a 7°C temperature threshold was a relevant proxy to reflect the synergistic effect between temperature and photoperiod on smolt migration. After integrating the effect of river flow pulses, the model accurately explained the inter‐annual changes in migration timing (R² = 0.95). The model predictions provide decisive management information to identify sensitive periods during which mitigation measures (e.g. hydropower turbine shutdown, river discharge management) should be conducted to promote smolt survival.
4. The model was used to predict phenological characteristics under future scenarios of climate change. The results suggest a joint effect of hydrological alterations and water warming. Temperature increases of 1–4°C were associated with earlier initiation of migration, 6–51 days earlier, and spring flood events greatly influenced the duration of the migration period. Accordingly, the combined effects of human‐induced modifications of the hydrological regimes and increasing temperatures could result in a mismatch between the smolt and favourable survival conditions in the marine environment.

     

The effect of physiological and environmental conditions on smolt migration in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

Hydropower development has negatively influenced Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations. Compensatory hatchery‐rearing programmes exist, but released fish suffer from high mortality that may be related to the lack of experience from natural environments in hatchery‐reared smolts and their large body size and high energetic state. Here, we used acoustic telemetry to test how body size, energetic state, and the environmental conditions of the river affect migration in hatchery‐reared smolts. The study was conducted in three consecutive years between 2011 and 2013 in the lower part of the River Umeälven, Sweden. For individual fish, there was no effect of body size but the energetic state of the fish had a negative effect on sea entry. The most important factor affecting sea entry rate was the water discharge in the old river bed that differed among years. Smolts were more likely to enter the sea in years when the discharge was high or when the discharge increased substantially shortly after release. Hatchery‐reared fish had higher migration speed at a slower flowing section compared with a faster flowing section, which was likely a result of large hesitation to enter the rapid section. The increase in water discharge led to an increase in fish migration speed disproportional to the increase in water velocity. Our results highlight the importance of water discharge for the smolts during smolt migration, and we argue that concern should be given to migrating fish when managing regulated rivers.     

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.     

Population structuring in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): evidence of genetic influence on the timing of smolt migration in sub-catchment stocks

Abstract –  We compared timing of smolt migration for two populations of naturally spawned Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar , originating from an upper catchment (River Tummel) and a lower catchment (River Almond) tributary of the River Tay, Scotland. Smolts from the upper tributary began migration earlier than those from the lower tributary. On both occasions when fry derived from River Isla (lower tributary) stock were transferred to a location in the upper catchment, smolt migration was later than for native fish. Similarly, when fry from Tummel and Isla stocks were stocked in a common, upper catchment location, Isla origin fish migrated at a later date, in both of the two following smolt years. These differences are indicative of a genetic basis for the timing of smolt migration and suggestive of local adaptation. Mounting evidence points towards local genetic adaptation for the timing of expression of behaviours associated with migration. These aspects of variation should be accommodated in management theory and practices.     

Temporal spawning migration patterns of landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in a constructed stream

Landlocked Atlantic salmon (ouananiche, Salmo salar) spawning migration timing varies throughout its range and is influenced by a variety of environmental variables. This study examined the spawning migration time of landlocked Atlantic salmon in a small (4 ha) constructed stream linked to a large reservoir (32,600 ha) in Newfoundland, Canada. Salmon use of the stream was passively monitored using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tags from 2006 to 2012. Of the salmon tagged throughout the reservoir, 48% entered the stream during the spawning season and remained there for 18–36 days from late September to November before they returned to the reservoir. Most fish entered the stream at dusk (32%). The lunar cycle influenced the timing of migration each year. Mean stream discharge (cubic metres per second) influenced migration timing in some years, and water temperature appeared to have minimal impact on migration timing. Twenty per cent of fish migrated to the stream in multiple years and 51% of these individuals appeared to use the stream on a biennial or alternate year cycle. These results demonstrate that small constructed streams can attract salmon from throughout a large reservoir and can provide valuable habitat in areas where spawning habitat is limited.     

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.     

Effect of cadmium on the cytoskeleton and morphology of gill chloride cells in parr and smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

This study documented the effect of cadmium on salmon parr and smolt gill morphology. Cadmium-induced changes in chloride cell (CC) cytoskeletal elements were investigated, as well as the modifications of CC surface area and density. In cadmium-treated parr (10 µg Cd l^-1 for 2 days), immunofluorescent light microscopy revealed the appearance of an intense actin staining located in the CC apical part. Transmission electron microscopic observations revealed a change in the organization of the microfilaments at the CC apex, with the appearance of numerous aggregates of filamentous actin. Higher cadmium concentrations (30 and 50 µg l^-1) and prolonged treatment times (7 to 14 days) did not modify such reorganisation. Microtubules were not significantly affected by similar treatments. Further, scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed that cadmium induces a significant increase of parr CC surface area as early as the second day of exposure. After 2 days, mature CC density had also increased. In smolt, a rise in CC surface area was observed, although CC density did not significantly increase.     

Riverine and fjord migration of wild and hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon smolts

Migration timing, speed, survival and effects of environmental parameters on migration, between wild and hatchery produced Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts in the River Lærdalselva were studied. Hatchery‐reared (n = 40) and wild pre‐smolts (n = 40) were tagged with acoustic tags, and an array of receivers along the migration route was deployed. In all, 77 and 85% of the fish from the two groups, respectively, were recorded as migrating smolts, that is, predation rate and/or numbers of fish opting to remain in the river were low. Hatchery‐reared smolts showed a migration pattern, speed and migration route similar to wild smolts, even though the time period between river release and onset of migration was relatively short. Both groups of smolt showed high migration speed through both the river and the fjord compared with other studies.     

Density of brown trout, Salmo trutta L., and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr after point and scatter stocking of fry

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and brown trout, Salmo trutta L., fry were point and scatter stocked in the early part of June at densities of 63–263 fry 100 m⁻² per species in the River Viantienjoki, a small river in northern Finland, and their population densities were assessed in late summer. Both species were always stocked together in similar quantities. Point stocking was used in the first 2 years and scatter stocking in the following 2 years. In point stocking, there was no correlation between the distance from the stocking sites (maximum = 250 m) and parr density in census sites ( r = −0.013 and 0.019 for brown trout and Atlantic salmon, respectively). The stocking density of fry did not influence parr density in August by either method or by species. Stocking density explained only from 11% to 23% of the parr survival depending on the species or stocking method. The mean densities of Atlantic salmon and brown trout parr did not differ significantly from each other at any fishing site ( P > 0.05). Both point and scatter stocking appear to be suitable methods for use in small rivers. The parr densities depend more on the other factors (e.g. habitat quality) than the stocking method, and the choice between methods could be based on the time and labour available.     

Early settlement and growth of stocked European glass eels in a fragmented watercourse

One of the actions that has been implemented to support the recovery of the panmictic population of European eel is stocking of waterbodies where natural recruitment is low or null. However, growth conditions of the stocked eels can vary greatly. This circumstance emphasises the importance to determine ideal habitat conditions to contribute to the success of stocking actions and, consequently, to increase the production of silver eels. This study aims to evaluate the early settlement and growth of stocked glass eels in the upper reaches of a fragmented river. Stocking was carried out, in 2014, at three sites of an inland tributary of the Mondego river basin (Central Portugal), and its monitoring was conducted during the following two years, until 2016, along with the collection of environmental and hydromorphological parameters. The results showed a successful dispersion throughout the study area. Growth varied spatially, although environmental parameters have not clearly explained this variation, but overall with high growth rates and a positive allometric growth in this early stage of stocking, suggesting a good condition of the stocked individuals. This study showed that these upper reaches of fragmented watercourses, a shared feature amongst most European rivers that are currently inaccessible for natural recruitment, may be suitable habitats for eel stocking.     

Migration model of post‐smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Gulf of Maine

Understanding how oceanographic factors independently and interactively influence fish behavior, physiology, and survival is essential for predicting the impact of climate change on fish. Such predictions are especially challenging for highly migratory species such as salmon that experience a broad range of conditions. We applied a novel modeling approach that combines an individual‐based particle model with a bioenergetics model to evaluate the effects of oceanographic variability on migration of post‐smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Interannual variability in the surface current velocity and sea surface temperature differentially influenced post‐smolt salmon migration. The magnitude, duration, and direction of the currents relative to a fish's intended swimming direction had the strongest influence on migration. Changes in ocean circulation led to changes in currents at a regional scale that have a similar, relative effect across multiple populations during out‐migration. Results of this study suggest that the Nova Scotia Coastal Current has a strong influence on the migration pathways of migrating salmon through the Gulf of Maine. The influx of cool fresh water from the Arctic, observed in the early 1990s, changed the Nova Scotia Coastal Current and, as suggested by model results, could have dramatically influenced post‐smolt salmon migration success. There was a trade‐off between arriving at the destination quickly but at a small size and not arriving at the destination at all. Fish that took a long time to migrate had more opportunities to feed and encountered warmer summer waters, increasing their overall growth.     

Offspring investment in wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): relationships with smolt age and spawning condition

We investigated the independent effects of age at smolting and body condition at the time of spawning on egg production by female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). For a given body size, female salmon that had smolted as juveniles after 2 years in fresh water produced smaller, more numerous eggs than females that smolted 1 year later. Furthermore, fecundity (but not egg size) was related positively to maternal body condition at spawning. Given that age at smolting is closely related to juvenile growth rate; results from this study suggest that conditions experienced by female Atlantic salmon during both early life and adulthood have implications for the size and number of eggs that they produce.     

Main stem movement of Atlantic salmon parr in response to high river temperature

Atlantic salmon become thermally stressed when water temperatures exceed 23 °C. To alleviate this stress, they behaviourally thermoregulate by moving to patches of cold water, often forming large aggregations. These patches are known as thermal refuges. Given the consensus that climate change will increase temperatures in Atlantic salmon catchments, thermal refuges will become increasingly important in minimising summer mortalities. While the behaviour of salmonids within thermal refuges is fairly well understood, less is known about their main stem movement in search of thermal refuges or its thermal and temporal cues. We detail the results of a PIT telemetry study to investigate the main stem movement behaviour of thermally stressed Atlantic salmon parr in a temperature‐impacted river. PIT antennas placed around two thermal refuges and at the upstream and downstream limits of their surrounding reach were used to record the movement of salmonids during a heatwave. We observed parr movement at the upstream and downstream antennas 135 min prior to the occurrence of the midpoint of aggregations in the thermal refuges, indicating that Atlantic salmon parr make reach‐scale movements in search of cool water prior to aggregating. Logistic regression showed that the number of degree hours >28 °C predicted the occurrence of main stem movement with a good degree of accuracy, indicating that this temperature represents a fundamental threshold causing Atlantic salmon parr to move towards cool water. Such data could be instrumental in allowing river managers to place limits on human activity within rivers, allowing salmon populations time to recover following heat stress events.     

Release during night enhances survival of wild Atlantic salmon smolts

The effect of nocturnal and diurnal releases on survival and migration of wild and hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, L., smolts (n = 82) was investigated by releasing acoustically tagged smolts at the lower end of the River Vosso, Norway. Hatchery smolts was registered in the estuary within hours of their release, whereas wild smolts migrated over a prolonged period. The time of estuary exit was affected by river discharge but not by time of release. Progression rates were slow through the estuary (0.25 BL/s ± 0.18 SD) and fast through the fjord (1.80 BL/s ± 0.69 SD), and they were not affected by the time of release or origin. Survival to the fjord was low (0%–15%). Survival was not affected by body length but was lower for wild smolts than for hatchery smolts, and survival of the former was lower when the fish were released in daylight.     

Influence of environmental and biological factors on the overwinter growth rate of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar parr in a UK chalk stream

Smolt lengths are increasingly recognised as an important determinant of salmonid marine survival rates. Overwintering growth rates could thus strongly influence adult return rates. In Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, most overwintering studies focus on rivers in harsh climates with minimal growth, yet in more southerly rivers, overwintering growth rates can be relatively high. Here, the factors influencing annual overwinter growth rates were tested for juvenile S. salar in a temperate chalk stream in southern England over 13 years, where over 10,000 salmon parr were tagged annually in autumn and a proportion recaptured the following spring during smolt emigration. Winters of higher and more variable water temperatures, with longer periods of high flows, showed increased overwintering growth rates. Faster growth rates were recorded from sites further upstream and that had lower parr densities; smaller individuals also grew more than expected for their initial size. These results suggest that a range of factors influences overwintering salmonid growth rates and can be used to inform management decisions to maximise the quality of emigrating smolts.     

Manganese supplementation of a practical, fish meal based diet for Atlantic salmon parr

This experiment was conducted to study whether practical fish meal based feeds for Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., require manganese (Mn) supplementation. Three thousand parr of initial weight 4.7 g were randomly distributed into 10 tanks and given a fish meal based diet, either unsupplemented or supplemented with 5, 10, 50 or 100 mg Mn kg^?1 (as MnSO₄*H₂O) for 12 weeks. The basal diet contained 4.8 mg Mn kg^?1. Mn concentration in vertebrae and whole fish responded linearly to supplemented Mn up to a level of 10 mg kg^?1 and then reached a plateau. Dietary Mn supplementation did not affect weight gain, liver Mn concentration, blood haemoglobin concentration or haematocrit. To the practical feed, a supplementary level of 10 mg Mn kg^?1, giving a total Mn concentration of 15 mg kg^?1 diet, was necessary to maintain normal Mn status as determined by Mn level in vertebrae and whole fish. However, taking into account the variable Mn content in fish meal and the uncertainty about availability, we recommend a general supplementation of 15 mg Mn kg^?1.     

Riverine and early marine survival of stocked salmon smolts, Salmo salar L., descending the Testebo River, Sweden

Abstract  A combination of radio and acoustic telemetry was used to monitor the out-migration of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in the River Testebo, its estuary and coastal system. As with many other Baltic rivers, the hydropower regulated River Testebo once had a self-sustaining salmon population that is now extinct. Substantial losses of smolts in the river (48–69%) and inner part of the estuary (43–47%) were found, but after leaving the estuary, the success of post-smolts moving out of the Bay was sufficiently high (83–89%) to conclude that habitat within the bay is not a factor limiting initial marine survival. The results suggest that hatchery-based recovery of a wild salmon population in the river will not be successful unless other actions, such as habitat improvement, are included.