Optimizing initial feeding of the Pike silverside Chirostoma estor: oil droplet depletion,point of no return,growth and fatty acid utilization in larvae fed enriched rotifers

The point of no return (PNR) and disappearance of the oil droplet were measured in Chirostoma estor larvae as a function of the time of first feeding. In a separate trial, growth and survival of larvae fed rotifers enriched with Chlorella sp., cod liver oil and corn oil were assessed. Fatty acid and lipid composition of eggs, oil droplets, egg yolk, feed and larvae were also evaluated. The PNR was found between 7 and 8 days posthatching (dph). Total oil droplet depletion occurred between 7 and 11 dph, depending on the time of first feeding. Best growth and survival were obtained in larvae fed with Chlorella‐enriched rotifers, followed by those fed cod liver oil‐enriched rotifers. In larvae fed corn oil, Chlorella and cod liver oil‐enriched rotifers, total oil droplet depletion took place on days 9, 10 and 11, respectively. There was a direct relationship between presence and duration of oil droplets and the survival of larvae under different starvation conditions. The feed source could prolong the existence of the oil droplet depending on particular dietary supply of essential fatty acids; the time of its disappearance could be a useful indicator of larval vigour and health status.     

Protracted spawning of St Lawrence River northern pike (Esox lucius): simulated effects on survival, growth, and production

Abstract –  An individual-based early life history model demonstrated that the timing and distribution of St Lawrence River northern pike ( Esox lucius ) spawning could affect subsequent young-of-year (YOY) production during nursery and influence year-class formation. Three different spawning patterns have emerged from empirical studies, where egg deposition occurred along the entire littoral gradient beginning in seasonally flooded emergent habitats in tributaries, progressing to submerged aquatic vegetation in shallow bays, and ending in deep water littoral habitats (up to 6 m). The spawning period is protracted, and typically lasts 6–8 weeks due to the presence of a strong thermal gradient. The model used temperature as the driving variable to predict egg abundance, stage-specific development, growth, survival, and ultimately relative production of YOY northern pike within 1-ha plots representative of the three habitats. Earlier spawning (mean 21 days) and higher mean daily survival and growth yielded higher YOY net production for tributaries (mean = 3095.4 g ha⁻¹, SD = 2028.6) relative to the shallow bay habitat (202.5 g ha⁻¹, SD = 125.7). In contrast, deep littoral habitat represented an ecological sink with little production (<0.9 g ha⁻¹). The results demonstrate the importance of the linkage between spawning and nursery processes in determining reproductive success.     

Effect of dietary protein on growth, feed conversion, body composition and survival of pike perch fingerlings (Sander lucioperca)

Triplicate groups of pike perch (Sander lucioperca) juveniles were fed six experimental diets containing protein levels varying from 263 to 619 g kg⁻¹ dry matter (d.m.) for 56 days. Dietary protein was supplied by graded amounts of fish meal (with 720 g kg⁻¹ crude protein). Crude lipid and gross energy content of 101–107 g kg⁻¹ and 19.9–20.6 MJ kg⁻¹ remained constant between experimental diets. Pike perch with an initial body weight of 1.05 ± 0.05 g were randomly distributed in 18 tanks of two similar recirculation systems and fed on gradually decreasing feeding rates of 10 to 6% of their body weight per day. Growth performance and feed conversion increased with dietary protein level from 263 to 549 g kg⁻¹ d.m. but did not decline at highest dietary protein level. Protein efficiency ratio declined linearly with increasing dietary protein. Survival ranged between 89.7 and 93.9% and was not affected by dietary composition. Dry matter and crude lipid content of pike perch fingerlings decreased with increasing dietary protein supply and significantly the lowest dry matter and crude lipid levels were observed in fish fed diets containing 619 g kg⁻¹ of crude protein. The dietary protein requirement for pike perch fingerlings calculated by broken‐line and second‐order polynomial regression ranged between 529 and 577 g kg⁻¹, respectively.     

Effects of varying dietary protein to lipid ratios on growth performance and body composition of juvenile pike perch (Sander lucioperca)

The present study investigated the effect of varying dietary protein‐to‐lipid ratios (P/L) on growth performance and body composition of pike perch (Sander lucioperca) fingerlings with an initial body weight of 1.35–1.40 g. Triplicate groups were reared during 56 days in recirculation systems and fed six experimental diets containing three dietary levels of lipid (90, 130, 170 g kg^?1 of dry matter, d.m.) combined with two levels of dietary protein (470, 540 g kg^?1 d.m.). During the experimental period the fixed feeding rates decreased from 10% to 5% of the total fish biomass per day. In contrast to previous results obtained with this species, the present study clearly demonstrated the occurrence of protein sparing effect. The best results for feed conversation ratio and specific growth rates were obtained in the treatments containing highest lipid level: diet 3 (P/L 47/17) and diet 6 (P/L 53/17). The d.m. and crude lipid contents of pike perch whole body increased in direct proportion of the dietary lipid levels. No difference was observed on crude protein and ash content among the treatments. Increasing hepatosomatic index at highest dietary lipid level suggested a limited lipid utilization of percids.     

低盐度对泥东风螺(Babylonia lutosa)稚螺生长与存活的影响

采用盐度渐变和突变2种方法试验低盐度对平均体重3.7 mg、平均壳高(2.24±0.24)mm的泥东风螺稚螺生长与存活的影响。结果表明:盐度28时,稚螺的生长速度最快,盐度降到24时,对稚螺的影响并不明显,摄食基本正常,但活力略有降低;变态7 d的泥东风螺稚螺能够适应高于21的低盐环境,存活基本正常,有比较高的成活率,但对其摄食和生长有一定的影响;当盐度突变至18时,泥东风螺稚螺仍能存活,突变至15时,则不能存活;而盐度渐变至15时,稚螺仍可存活;盐度逐渐降低只可扩大泥东风螺稚螺的存活盐度范围,但其对最适生长盐度范围影响有限。     

Early development of the shortfin silverside Chirostoma humboldtianum (Valenciennes, 1835) (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae)

The shortfin silverside Chirostoma humboldtianum has been considered for culture in Mexico, but success has been limited by a poor knowledge of its early development. First synthesis of the early development of the shortfin silverside is presented to determine conditions suitable for rearing. Brooder maturation was induced through photothermal cycles. C. humboldtianum ova were fertilized in vitro. The eggs were incubated in reconstituted water (160-180 mg/L CaCO₃) at 18 °C and 5 gm of NaCl per litre. During the hatching day, 300 shortfin silversides were stocked and followed up until metamorphosis in order to establish the timing of exogenous feeding, changes in food type, growth and development during critical periods for survival, according to the theory of saltatory ontogeny. Free embryos hatched 12 days after fertilization at 18 °C. First critical point for survival is the beginning of exogenous feeding. Free embryos started mixed feeding on day four of post-hatching (dph), point of no-return was presented towards the end of mixed feeding on 6 dph, larval period began at six (dph) when the anus is opened, and metamorphosis to juvenile was presented at 65 dph with a SL of 19.34 ± 2.28 mm, when scales and fins were well developed. Differences in growth between periods were detected: free embryos growth slower than larvae but mouth size depicted a larger growth rate in the former. Cephalic length and mouth size were negatively related to standard length in embryos and larvae. Mouth size was positively related to cephalic length in free embryos but negative in larvae. Results suggest that during the free embryo phase, growth priorities are directed to the development of apparatuses and systems; whereas, during the larval period, energy is directed to growth in length, mouth size and development of fins, which allows them to increase their swimming velocity, grants them a greater capacity to obtain exogenous food and, in consequence, increases fitness for survival.     

Effects of dietary protein sources on growth,survival and digestive capacity of Octopus maya juveniles (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)

We propose two hypotheses to explain the inexistence of adequate prepared diet for Octopus maya at this date: Hypothesis 1 is related to changes in protein structure during protein cooking, which affects the digestibility. Hypothesis 2 is related to changes on nutritional characteristics during ingredient process, which affects the nutritional composition of diet. To test hypothesis 1, experiments one and two were directed to determine if protein cooking reduces digestibility and growth of animals when compared to fresh or lyophilized protein sources. For hypothesis 2, three experiments were conducted, testing seven different dietary protein sources offered in isolation or combined in artificial diets fed to O. maya. Results demonstrated that the diets that promoted growth were the ones based on fresh crab paste, and both lyophilized crab and squid tentacles paste. In consequence hypothesis 1 was accepted. The cooking process also changed nutritional characteristics of protein sources, affecting the growth of O. maya. Results obtained when squid and crab were mixed suggest that nutritional requirements of octopuses were covered with that diet in similar forms compared to when using fresh or lyophilized crab, also confirming hypothesis 2. Based on growth rates obtained, we can conclude that nutritional requirements of O. maya must be between 80% and 86% Protein (P), 5.1–5.6% Lipids and a protein: energy ratio between (P/E) 38.9 and 42.2 g MJ^?1.     

盐度胁迫对遮目鱼幼鱼存活、生长及性状相关性的影响

设置盐度梯度为0、10、20、27(自然海水)、35,共5个实验组,每组3个平行。遮目鱼(Chanos chanos)幼鱼不经过过渡直接放入各梯度盐度中,养殖30 d后统计存活率,测量每尾鱼的体质量及各表型形态性状,以体质量为因变量(y),各形态性状为自变量(x)进行通径分析和决定系数分析。结果表明,盐度0组的幼鱼存活率最低(73.33%),增重率(573.94±231.58)%和特定生长率(6.23±1.16)%最高,与其他组差异极显著(P0.01)。除盐度0组外,其他各组幼鱼的存活率均在90%以上,且幼鱼特定生长率和增重率在各组之间差异不显著(P0.05)。相关分析表明,幼鱼的各形态性状与其体重之间呈极显著的相关关系(P0.01)。通径分析表明,遮目鱼幼鱼的体长、全长和体高对体重的影响最大,且在不同盐度胁迫下对幼鱼体重的决定作用不同,其他性状对体重的影响较小。建立了盐度胁迫下形态性状对体重影响的最优回归方程。     

Effects of varying dietary fatty acid profile on growth performance, fatty acid, body and tissue composition of juvenile pike perch (Sander lucioperca)

Pike perch (Sander lucioperca) has been identified as specie destined to diverse European inland aquaculture, but knowledge on the nutritional requirements is weak. Therefore, we investigated the effect of varying dietary fatty acid (FA) profile by partial replacement of fish oil (FO) with vegetable oils on growth, FA and body composition of juvenile pike perch. An extruded basal diet containing 59 g kg^?1 crude lipids (FO) was added with 60 g kg^?1 FO, 60 g kg^?1 linseed oil (LO) or 60 g kg^?1 soybean oil (SO). The resulting dietary FA composition differed mainly in the triglyceride fraction and was characterized by highest amounts of linolenic acid (18:3 n‐3) in the LO diet and linoleic acid in the SO diet. Diet enriched with FO contained highest contents of highly unsaturated FA 20:5 n‐3 (eicosapentaenic acid) and 22:6 n‐3 (docosahexaenic acid). Pike perch were held in a recirculation system and each feeding group (in triplicate) was fed with experimental diets at a daily rate of 35 g kg^?1 of biomass for 57 days by automatic feeders. Weight gain and specific growth rate of experimental feeding groups ranged between 18.47 and 19.58 g and 1.37–1.45% day^?1 and was not affected by the dietary composition indicating that FO can be replaced by vegetable oils without negative impact on growth performance. In contrast to the whole body and muscle composition, liver tissue was affected by the varying diets. Liver tissues of fish fed diets enriched with vegetable oils showed significantly increased lipid contents of 162 (LO) and 147 (SO) g kg^?1 and indicate decreased lipid utilization compared with fish fed FO diet (liver lipid content 112 g kg^?1). Nevertheless, hepatosomatic index of pike perch was not influenced by dietary lipid composition. The FA profile of pike perch was generally determined by the dietary FAs.     

Effects of temperature on growth,survival and physiological parameters in juveniles of Lophiosilurus alexandri,a carnivorous neotropical catfish

This study aimed to analyse the effects of different water temperatures on the growth, survival and blood physiological parameters of Lophiosilurus alexandri. Juveniles measuring 12.6 ± 0.5 cm and weighing 30.6 ± 3.6 g were subjected to four water temperature regimes: 23, 26, 29 and 32°C with four replicates. The animals were fed twice daily with formulated diet. The experiment lasted for 35 days. Survival was 100% at all water temperatures, and the best temperature for growth was estimated to be 27.8°C using a quadratic regression model. The estimated temperatures for the best feed conversion and highest feed consumption rates were 26.2 and 28.8°C respectively. The fat visceral‐somatic index was highest at 32°C. The highest haemoglobin and haematocrit values were 29.4 and 32.1°C respectively. For plasma protein and cholesterol, the lowest values estimated were 23.9 and 24.1°C respectively. Glucose and liver nitrogen content increased with rising temperature. Higher values of total ammonia in the water were observed at higher temperatures. No effects of temperature were seen on the amounts of muscle dry matter, nitrogen, energy content and triglycerides or on the hepatosomatic index. Water temperature has an important role in the developmental and blood physiological parameters of juvenile L. alexandri, and the quadratic regression model showed that the appropriate temperature for growth is between 27 and 28°C.     

The effects of oligofructose on growth performance,survival and autochthonous intestinal microbiota of beluga (Huso huso) juveniles

Preliminary experiments were undertaken to investigate the effects of oligofructose on beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) growth performance, survival and culturable autochthonous intestinal microbiota. Juveniles (20 g) were fed diets containing varying levels of oligofructose (10, 20 and 30 g kg^?1) at 2–3% body weight per day for 7 weeks. Compared to the control group, no significant (P > 0.05) effect on growth performance was observed in fish fed diets supplemented with oligofructose at 10 and 20 g kg^?1. However, compared to the 20 g kg^?1 group, feeding oligofructose at 30 g kg^?1 resulted in adverse effects on growth performance. Dietary supplementation of oligofructose at 20 g kg^?1 significantly increased survival rate. Microbiological assessment indicated that the viable culturable autochthonous levels were not affected by dietary oligofructose. Although lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were not a dominant component of the endogenous autochthonous microbiota, LAB levels were significantly elevated in fish fed 20 g kg^?1 dietary oligofructose. This elevated LAB population was able to persist for at least 1 week after reverting the prebiotic group back to a control diet. This study encourages further research on different aspects of oligofructose in sturgeon culture with clear emphasis on optimizing dosage levels.     

Effect of diet and light regime on growth and survival of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) larvae and early juveniles

Growth of larval sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus fed live Artemia nauplii , a specially prepared dry feed (MN-3), a commercial dry salmon starter feed (Silver Cup 3600), or a combination of 50% live Artemia and 50% MN-3, under conditions of either light or dark for 21 days was studied. For all diets, fish reared in darkened tanks were significantly larger than those in illuminated tanks from day 8 onwards. Fish fed a combination of live Artemia plus MN-3 grew significantly more quickly than those fed either live Artemia or MN-3 only. On day 21 of the experiment, average weight of fish fed the combined diet was 649 ± 30 mg (mean ± SEM ) in darkened tanks and 445 ± 16 mg in illuminated tanks, while those fed Artemia alone were 242 ± 9 and 198 ± 13 mg (dark and light, respectively) and fish fed MN-3 only were intermediate at 377 ± 20 and 267 ± 16 mg (dark and light, respectively). Catfish fed the salmon starter initially grew slowly, but after day 11 grew more quickly than the other groups. Mortalities were highest for fish fed salmon feed.
Permanent darkness enhances the growth of C. gariepinus larvae during and after metamorphosis. While dry diets promoted higher growth rate than live Artemia nauplii alone, a combination of the two resulted in the fastest growth.     

Lipid classes and fatty acids during embryogenesis of captive and wild silverside (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chirostoma estor estor</Emphasis>) from Pátzcuaro Lake

Lipid classes and fatty acid levels were analyzed in freshly fertilized eggs, early and late embryo development, and freshly hatched larvae obtained from wild and captive silverside Chirostoma estor estor broodstock, as well as in plankton, Artemia, and pelleted feed. The concentration of triglycerides (TGs) and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) in neutral lipid fraction significantly decreased during early development and especially after hatching, whereas phospholipids and HUFA in polar lipid fraction remained constant. These results indicate that TGs rather than PLs are used as energy sources and that all HUFAs [20:4n-6/arachidonic acid (ARA), 20:5n-3/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and 22:6n-3/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] of polar lipids are selectively conserved during early development. High levels of DHA (30%, on average, of total fatty acids) and low levels of EPA (4%) were observed in eggs, embryos, and larvae and did not reflect the proportions of these fatty acids in food. Preferential accumulation of DHA from food consumed by broodstock, and then transference to eggs, was probably occurring. The main difference between eggs from both origins was a low level of ARA in eggs from captive fish (4% of total fatty acids) compared to wild fish (9%). This could be associated with a deficiency in the diet that is not compensated for by desaturation/elongation of 18:2n-6 and, possibly, with greater stress in captive fish. In any case, particular requirements of ARA should be determined to optimize the culture of C. estor.     

Dispersal strategies of juvenile pike (Esox lucius L.): Influences and consequences for body size,somatic growth and trophic position

Individual variability in dispersal strategies, where some individuals disperse and others remain resident, is a common phenomenon across many species. Despite its important ecological consequences, the mechanisms and individual consequences of dispersal remain poorly understood. Here, riverine Northern pike (Esox lucius) juveniles (age 0+ (young-of-the-year) and 1+ years) were used to investigate the influence of body size and trophic position (at capture) on the dispersal from off-channel natal habitats and the subsequent consequences for body sizes, specific growth rate and trophic position (at recapture). Individuals that dispersed into the river (“dispersers”) were not significantly different in body size than those remaining on nursery grounds (“stayers”). For trophic position, 0+ dispersers were of significantly lower trophic position than stayers, but with this not apparent in the 1+ fish. Following dispersal into the river, the dispersers grew significantly faster than stayers and, on recapture, were significantly larger, but with no significant differences in their final trophic positions. Early dispersal into the river was, therefore, not associated with early dietary shifts to piscivory and the attainment of larger body sizes of individuals whilst in their natal habitats, contrary to prediction. These results suggest that despite an increasing risk of mortality for individuals dispersing early from natal areas, there are long-term benefits via elevated growth rates and, potentially, higher fitness. Such early dispersal behaviour could be driven by early competitive displacement.     

西施舌幼贝滤食与生长的初步研究

2000年8月～2001年7月,在长乐市海蚌研究开发中心对西施舌[Coelomactra antiquata(Spengler)]幼贝的摄食与生长进行了研究。结果表明,西施舌幼贝昼夜滤食有一定节律,白天滤食率略低于夜晚。平均体长24.7～42.6cm的幼贝对扁藻(Playmonos SPP)的滤食量分别为10.55×104～31.94×104cell/(h·个),其6h滤食率为11.42～22.38％。用单细胞藻类为饵料进行人工饲育,满一龄的西施舌体长30.2～51.0mm,体重3.8～21.4g,不同个体间生长差异显著。体重、体宽与体长的直线回归关系为:We=0.91+0.12L,We=0.78+14L。     

自溶面包酵母在马氏珠母贝育苗中的饵料效果

在实验车间内利用120L的塑料箱作为实验容器,采用自溶面包酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)作为单细胞藻的辅助饵料,研究其在马氏珠母贝(Pinctada martensii Dunker)育苗中的饵料效果,以期解决该贝育苗过程饵料供应不稳定、易培饵料品种小球藻(Chlorella sp.)利用率低的问题。研究结果表明:(1)在温度(30.0±0.5)℃、NaCl质量分数3%、pH6.5～7.0的自溶条件下,用经过18h自溶的酵母投喂D形幼虫,其平均日壳长增长率显著高于其他自溶时间酵母投喂组效果,单独投喂非自溶酵母时D形幼虫不能存活;(2)D形幼虫期单投自溶酵母,幼虫成活率与金藻组没有显著差异(P>0.05),生长速度比金藻组提高8%(P<0.05),说明自溶酵母可以完全替代湛江等鞭金藻(Isochrysis zhanjiangensis Hu﹠Liu),但在壳顶幼虫期和稚贝期单投自溶酵母不能使幼虫和稚贝正常发育和存活;(3)壳顶幼虫期及眼点幼虫至稚贝期投喂"自溶酵母 小球藻(Chlorella sp.)"或"自溶酵母 扁藻[Platymonas subcordiformis(Wille)]",其生长速度及存活率或稚贝育成率均显著高于单投扁藻或小球藻(P<0.05),单投小球藻的饵料效果最差;(4)自溶酵母与小球藻混投对眼点幼虫至稚贝培育效果较单独投喂影响显著,可显著(P<0.05)提高稚贝的育成率、生长速度和耐干露能力。研究表明,使用自溶酵母可以优化马氏珠母贝健康苗种规模繁育中的饵料供应工艺及提高易培饵料品种小球藻的利用价值,从而提高该贝育苗效果。     

Growth of pike larvae (Esox lucius) under different conditions of food quality and salinity

Abstract –  We measured growth of pike larvae ( Esox lucius ) fed with freshwater and brackish-water zooplankton by monitoring larval wet weight during 18 days. The fish food was analysed for species composition, carbon, nitrogen and fatty acids. Further, we analysed fish larval faecal pellet production. Larval weight was significantly higher in fresh water than in brackish water with natural zooplankton as food. Growth, given as wet weight, showed a significant relationship with zooplankton (>100  μ m) food carbon and highly unsaturated fatty acids, 20:5ω3, 22:6ω3, ω6 fatty acids and the ω3/ω6 fatty acid ratio. Phytoplankton fatty acids (10–50  μ m), such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, 20:5ω3, 22:6ω3 and the ω3 fatty acids also correlated strongly with the wet weight of pike larvae. We demonstrated that several factors impact on pike larval growth.     

不同底播密度对泥东风螺(Babylonia lutosa)幼螺生长和存活的影响

以泥东风螺幼螺为试验材料,研究了其在海区底播的生长、存活以及不同底播密度对其生长、存活的影响。采用单因素方差分析进行数据的显著性分析。2013—2014年第一次试验结果显示,泥东风螺幼螺底播475 d,壳高、体重分别达到(28.4 177±3.7 837)mm、(4.9 438±2.0 669)g,成活率为71.43%;除了68 d数据显示底播密度对其存活率有显著影响(P0.05)外,其它均显示对其壳高、体重、存活率没有显著影响(P0.05)。2013—2014年第二次试验结果表明,泥东风螺幼螺底播385 d,壳高、体重分别达到(20.9904±2.8 276)mm、(2.5 936±0.9 482)g,成活率为38.65%;放养密度对其壳高、体重、存活率均没有显著影响(P0.05)。综上所述,5~20粒/m2为泥东风螺幼螺适宜的海区底播密度。     

Effects of temperature on the growth of pollack (Pollachius pollachius) juveniles

Growth of juvenile pollack was assessed at five constant temperatures (9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 °C) in an 84-day trial. Duplicate groups of 75 fish (initial weight 143 ± 2 g) were held in O₂ saturated water (102–103% saturation) and fed to apparent satiation. Growth increased as temperature increased from 9 °C up to a plateau at 12–15 °C (NS differences between 12 and 15 °C) followed by a decrease from 18 °C. No growth occurred at 21 °C. For the overall period, specific growth rates were 0.52% and 0.53% day^− 1 at 12 and 15 °C compared to 0.40% day^− 1 at 18 °C. Feed intake was maximum at 15–18 °C (0.68–0.69% day^− 1) and it was significantly lower at 21 °C (0.45% day^− 1). Apparent feed conversion ratio was significantly higher at 18 °C than at 12–15 °C (1.8 compared to 1.2–1.4). There was no significant change in fish whole body composition related to temperature.At the end of the experiment, fish growth recovery following a transfer from 18 and 21 °C to 15 °C was assessed using a 50-day challenge test. Growth rate of the previous 21 °C group was the same as in the 15 °C group (NS differences) and in the previous 18 °C group it was significantly lower. The study showed that pollack have a high capacity to recover from a prolonged period of low or no growth induced by high temperatures.     

Genetic population structure of pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758) in the brackish lagoons of the southern Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a unique ecosystem and the largest body of brackish water in the world. It is inhabited by several originally freshwater fish species, one of them being pike (Esox lucius), which is adapted to the mesohaline conditions of the southern Baltic Sea and colonises its south‐western bays and lagoons. Using twelve microsatellite markers, we analysed the genetic structure of 407 Baltic Sea pike collected from ten locations in the coastal zone of the southern Baltic region and adjacent rivers and nearby lakes. We used traditional F‐statistics and a Bayesian approach implemented in STRUCTURE to investigate spatial structuring. Our results show an overall isolation by distance pattern with two distinct coastal clusters. The border area between the two clusters is characterised by a sharp salinity leap, indicating that the dispersal barrier is not physical, but physiological in nature. A third cluster was formed by three lake populations, presumably as a result of past stocking measures. Additional otolith microchemical studies demonstrate the brackish origin and residency of the majority of the pike from the coastal lagoons, supporting previous studies which suggest that the anadromous pike “ecotype” is scarce in this area of the Baltic Sea. Our results contribute to current knowledge on the population genetics of Baltic Sea pike in a previously unsampled area.