Fish and lamprey passage in a combined Denil and vertical slot fishway

A fishway (fish pass), consisting of vertical slot and Denil sections, was constructed at the lowest dam on the River Kemijoki, northern Finland, in 1993. The river was one of the best salmon rivers in Europe until 1949, when the dam and the hydropower plant were completed close to the river mouth. From 1993 to 1995, nearly 1000 adult salmonids passed through the fishway despite heavy fishing below the dam. Of environmental variables measured, water temperature, headwater level, and discharge through the power plant in relation to season changes explained most of the variation in Baltic salmon, Salmo salar L., numbers. They had a minor effect on trout, Salmo trutta L. Migratory whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus (L.), entered the fishway but were not observed in its uppermost pool. River lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis (L.), passed through the vertical slot section of the fishway after plastic bristles were fastened into the bottom of the slots.     

Modelling the impacts of removing seal predation from Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, rivers in Scotland: a tool for targeting conflict resolution

Abstract  Bioenergetics were used to model the potential impacts on adult Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., stocks and rod fisheries of removing harbour seals, Phoca vitulina L., from three rivers of different scales in the Moray Firth, Scotland, viz: the Spey (large), Conon (medium) and Moriston (small). Overall, seals had the greatest impact on the Moriston, where removal of a single animal could increase cumulative catch by 17% during the fishing season. On the Conon and Spey the impacts were negligible, and resulted in increased catches of <1% annually. On all rivers eliminating seal predation had the greatest impact during the spring due to the smaller size of spring salmon sub-stocks. A generalised model of seal removal illustrated that stocks and catches increased by >33% in rivers with monthly rod catches ≤10 fish, but declined to <10% for rivers with catches >34 fish. The outputs of the models are qualitative, but provide a management tool for targeting action to resolve seal-salmon fishery conflict. Smaller salmon population units, and spring salmon sub-stocks and fisheries in particular, are most vulnerable to predation. The merit of this approach is discussed regarding the management of Special Areas of Conservation for salmon and seals.     

Effect of brown trout body size on post-stocking survival and pike predation

Abstract –  A total of 40 (20 age-3 + 20 age-4) radio-tagged hatchery-reared brown trout ( Salmo trutta L.) and 40 wild radio-tagged northern pike ( Esox lucius L.) were released into a regulated river. Age-3 brown trout were predicted and observed to be highly vulnerable to predation by pike (50% mortality), whereas age-4 brown trout were predicted and observed to enjoy an almost absolute size refuge from predation (5% mortality). Almost half of the fish from both age groups similarly emigrated and survived from the river within 3 days of the release. However, there was a considerable difference in survival between age groups for fish that remained in the river for a longer period. Of these, all except one age-3 brown trout were eaten by pike, whereas all but one age-4 fish survived predation.     

Pattern and prevalence of predator damage on adult Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L., returning to a river system in north-east Scotland

Abstract There remains considerable debate over the impact of predation upon Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., populations. The pattern and prevalence of predator damage on salmon returning to a river system in North-east Scotland were recorded. Overall, 214 (19.5%) out of 1099 fish sampled were damaged, and 10 distinct categories of damage were identified. Measurements of scratches indicated that the damage was caused by a number of different factors. In particular, damage typically attributed to seals was suggested to be the result of attacks by odontocete cetaceans. These results highlight the multispecies nature of interactions between salmon and their predators, but suggest that damage levels may be of limited use in assessing the impact of different predators on salmonid population dynamics.     

黄海北部河口区活性磷酸盐含量分布动态与环境质量评价

1999～2000年对黄海北部重要河口海域活性磷酸盐的连续监测分析,结果表明,春夏季是江河等陆源排放活性磷酸盐的高峰期,秋季呈下降趋势,但沿岸的降水能延迟下降的时间表;总体区域分布为大洋河口以东偏高.1999年椅圈、大洋河口、碧流河口、鸭绿江口和庄河口活性磷酸盐含量的最高值出现在3～5月,分别达0.059 mg/L、0.047 mg/L、0.046 mg/L、0.041 mg/L和0.039 mg/L;2000年椅圈、庄河口最大值出现在7月,为0.049 mg/L和0.042 mg/L,分别超过四类和三类海水标准,并超过引发赤潮的磷酸盐阈值;最低值全区多出现在9月.     

Density of juvenile brown trout and Atlantic salmon in natural and man-made riverine habitats

The density of juvenile brown trout (Sulmo trutta L.) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) was significantly higher along river bank areas protected against erosion than along natural river banks in the River Gaula, Central Norway. A habitat shift appeared in Atlantic salmon, and a behavioural shift was demonstrated by brown trout from August October. The effect of habitat on densities of juvenile salmonids should be taken into account as mitigation measures on eroded river banks and when assessing fish production in rivers.     

River temperature and adult anadromous Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar,and brown trout,Salmo trutta

Abstract In terms of the spawning migration of adult salmon, Salmo salar L., water flow is often considered the primary factor controlling river entry and fluctuations in flow controlling when the fish subsequently migrate upstream. However, water temperature has also been suggested to modify the spawning migration of salmon, particularly their movements within estuaries and the timing of freshwater entry. Freshwater temperature is more likely to impact salmonid biology than flow, particularly in relation to temperature dependant metabolic costs, time of spawning and fecundity. Therefore, temperature may be more of a factor regulating salmonid populations in fresh water than flow itself. This study focuses on two aspects of the impact of temperature on salmonids in fresh water: first, how salmon may modify their behaviour to adapt to changes in temperature and second the potential relationship between temperature, environmental conditions (e.g. water quality) and physiology (e.g. maturation and olfaction) in regulating adult migration.     

Temporal changes in ascendance and in‐season exploitation of Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar,inferred by a video camera array

Abstract Weekly exploitation rates of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in the River Utsjoki, Finland, were estimated from catch reports during the 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 seasons, and recordings of all Atlantic salmon ascending the river using a submerged video camera array. In all years, mean weekly fishing mortality rates were significantly higher in June than July to August, with a falling trend throughout the fishing season. Owing to overlap in size between one‐sea‐winter (1SW) and multi‐sea‐winter (MSW) salmon, the estimated fishing mortality rates were based on all sea‐age categories combined. By the second week in June, 18.3–34.7% of large salmon (only MSW) had ascended, compared with 2.2–6.4% of small salmon (1SW and some MSW). Indirectly, the earlier start of ascent of large salmon to River Utsjoki indicated that in‐river fishing mortality of MSW salmon is higher than for 1SW salmon. A later opening of the fishing season may be used to reduce the in‐river fishing mortality, especially for the MSW component.     

Drift diving: A quick and accurate method for assessment of anadromous salmonid spawning populations

The accuracy of drift diving surveys of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. and sea trout, Salmo trutta L., was evaluated by comparing the abundance and size distribution with catches in a fish trap over 6 years in the River Etneelva, western Norway. The population count from drift diving accounted for on average 96.3% of the salmon in the trap after accounting for the catches during fishing. Size structure registered during drift diving corresponded with trap catches of salmon, but the number of small salmon (<3 kg) appeared to be somewhat underestimated, while large salmon (>7 kg) were overestimated in drift diving. For sea trout, the match between drift diving counts and trap registrations was poorer (average 76.3%), but may have been affected by the surveys being performed too late with regards to sea trout spawning time. The study illustrates the utility of drift counting for estimating the entire population of anadromous salmonids in a river.     

渤海虎平岛周围海域的斑海豹种群动态初步调查

在2005年4月和2006年3—5月,分别对大连虎平岛周围海域的斑海豹栖息地及斑海豹资源进行了调查,斑海豹的数量调查采用领地计数法;调查发现2005年春季在此处的斑海豹日最多为54头,2006年春季日最多为67头。在风浪较小,晴好天气,斑海豹在该海域出现的几率多;通过斑海豹数量的脉冲式变化推测每一批斑海豹在本调查海域不做长时间的停留。     

Age structure of eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), populations in the River Severn, England, and the River Dee, Wales

Abstract. Sampling was carried out at 93 sites on the River Severn, England and at 8 sites on the River Dee, Wales. The age structure of the population shifted gradually from the younger to the older age-classes with distance upstream. This was related to the time required for the eels to reach these regions and to the increase in the proportion of females.
In the Severn, eels can migrate (unaided by tidal transport) at rates of between 20 and 30 km year⁻¹, while in the Dee, passage upstream is between 10 and 20 km year⁻¹. It is suggested that this slower rate is related to a more arduous migration, resulting from the steeper gradient of the Dee, In the lower reaches of the Severn, eels aged from 7 to 8 years were generally the most abundant, while in the middle and upper reaches, eels aged 13 years occurred most frequently and in the greatest numbers.
The age structures of the populations were classified using twinspan into three main groups and related to distance, upstream of the region of flow reversal, using discriminant analysis. The analysis demonstrated that age structure was related to the distance upstream of the region of flow reversal and that 60–76% of the twinspan site groupings could be classified in terms of distance.     

Effects of hot dry summers on the loss of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, from estuaries in South West England

Salmon, Salmo salar L., were radio tagged in four estuaries in South West England. At medium to high summer flows, most salmon entering the river did so within 10 days of tagging. Lower flows were associated with an increased tendency for fish to remain in tidal water for a protracted period, and for those delayed fish to fail to enter the river. The delay was correlated with low freshwater flow, but it was concluded that high water temperature, and in some situations low dissolved oxygen, were likely to be the major influences. The causes of failure to enter the river by the delayed fish include lethally low levels of oxygen in some situations, but a major factor may be missed physiological opportunity. Implications in terms of water resource management, fisheries management and climate change are discussed.     

Habitat characteristics affecting occurrence of a fluvial species in a watershed altered by a large reservoir

Flooding river valleys following construction of dams restrict fluvial environments to reaches that were formerly headwaters. Whether remaining habitat is suitable for all life stages of fluvial species is poorly understood. A fluvial species, Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus, showed a dramatic decline following flooding of the Upper Peace River and the formation of the Williston Reservoir. We related landscape and field site‐specific features with occurrence of juvenile Arctic grayling using an information theoretic approach. For the landscape model, an association was identified between stream order and Arctic grayling occurrence although stream order alone was a poor predictor. A positive association between juvenile Arctic grayling occurrence and distance from the Williston reservoir and stream order, as well as a negative association with water temperature and temperature variance, was deemed important for the field site model. Both modelling approaches indicated size of stream system to be an important influence on occurrence of juvenile grayling in the Williston watershed. River length required for suitable river habitat for salmonids has not previously been identified, but should be factored into future management plans when evaluating the impact of proposed hydroelectric dams and subsequent flooding of river systems.     

An assessment of salmon farms and wild salmonids as sources of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) copepodids in the water column in Loch Torridon, Scotland

Wild salmonids and farmed salmon can both be sources of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1838) larvae . Farmed salmon smolts free of L. salmonis infections are stocked in sea cages and may subsequently contract L. salmonis infections, probably from wild fish. The contribution of gravid L. salmonis at Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms to populations of L. salmonis larvae in the water column has in the past been based on estimated parameters, such as louse fecundity. This present study augments these calculations by combining empirical data on densities of infective L. salmonis copepodids in the field with estimates of the number of gravid L. salmonis on farmed and wild salmonids in Loch Torridon. Data collected between 2002 and 2007 show a significant correlation between mean densities of L. salmonis copepodids recovered in the water column and the numbers of gravid L. salmonis at the local salmon farms. Generally, the farms with greatest numbers of salmon were observed to have stronger correlations with densities of copepodids in the water than the farms with fewer fish. The study suggests that louse management approaches, e.g. treatment trigger levels, need to take account of individual farm biomass, or numbers of fish. This study highlights the importance of control of L. salmonis on salmon farms for the co-existence of both wild salmonid populations and the aquaculture industry.     

The role of Lake IJsselmeer, a closed-off estuary of the River Rhine, in rehabilitation of salmonid populations

After many technical measures and restocking activities in the River Rhine, there are now signs of salmonids being able to complete their anadromous life cycle. In Lake IJsselmeer, a former estuary of the River Rhine, the large effort associated with professional fisheries has been used to collect bycatch data on rare, migratory fish. To clarify the function of the lake for salmonids, catch data collected throughout the year between 1995 and 1999 were related to various possible migratory strategies known for these species. Species-specific differences were found in timing, length–frequency distribution and maturity stage reflecting different behaviour of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. ( n =249) and sea trout, S. trutta L. ( n =3962). There was evidence that salmon exhibited traditional anadromous behaviour and use the lake only as a corridor. By contrast, sea trout appears to use the lake both as a corridor and as feeding habitat.     

Homing and straying of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L., released in three rivers in Norway

Releases of hatchery-reared smolts of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in the Rivers Orkla, Gaula and Alta, Norway yielded large percentages of strays (194, 13.7 and 13.8% respectively), based on recaptures from anglers. Homing precision to the rivers of release was independent of the release site on the river. Distribution of recaptured adult salmon within the rivers was dependent on the release site; upstream releases yielded more upstream recaptures than did downstream releases.     

Levels of Renibacterium salmoninarum antigens in resident and anadromous salmonids in the River Ellidaár system in Iceland

In relation to stock enhancement programmes, wild salmon broodfish have been routinely screened for the presence of Renibacterium salmoninarum antigens (Rs‐Ag) for decades. A sudden increase in the prevalence of Rs‐Ag experienced caused extensive problems to this industry as eggs from positive fish are discarded. The prevalence and level of Rs‐Ag were examined in resident and anadromous salmonids in the River Ellidaár system and the progress of Rs‐Ag in a cohort of salmon followed. Both prevalence and Rs‐Ag levels were high in resident salmonids and emigrating salmon smolts in the river system. When the smolts re‐entered their home river as adults the following summer, they were almost free of Rs‐Ag, but the longer they stayed in the river, the more Rs‐Ag they acquired; the majority being positive at spawning. This study demonstrates a high level of Rs‐Ag in salmonids in the River Ellidaár system which significantly reduces in the salmon during its seawater phase. Accordingly, it seems ideal to sample salmon broodfish as soon as possible after ascending the river and subsequently transfer to Rs‐free environment for storage until stripping, which could result in lower Rs‐prevalence and minimize the problems that stock enhancement programmes have faced due to Rs‐positive wild broodfish.     

Recovery patterns of salmonid populations following a fish kill event on the River Blackwater,Northern Ireland

Abstract A severe fish kill event caused by agricultural pollution impacted 2.4 km of the River Blackwater, Northern Ireland, in August 2007. A post‐kill monitoring programme sampled existing monitoring sites in the fish kill zone as well as upstream and downstream control sites. Post‐kill monitoring in combination with historical background data facilitated an assessment of the extent and severity of the disturbance episode on local salmonid populations. Subsequent recovery patterns indicated that total salmonid abundance returned to control levels within 1 year. Total salmonid biomass recovered within 2 years, whereas brown trout age structure took up to 3 years to return to background levels. Recovery dynamics were dominated by large‐scale directional migrations rather than random local movements. This included an initial autumnal immigration of 0+ age class brown trout, Salmo trutta L., in late 2007 followed by spawning migrations of adult migratory salmonids. The significance of relatively rapid natural recovery patterns is discussed in the context of potential management options such as restocking.     

Predator and prey events at the entrance of a surface-oriented fish collector at North Fork Dam,Oregon

Quantifiable estimates of predator–prey interactions and relationships in aquatic habitats are difficult to obtain and rare, especially when individuals cannot be readily observed. To overcome this observational impediment, imaging sonar was used to assess the cooccurrence of predator-size fish and juvenile salmonids, Oncorhynchus spp., at the entrance to a floating surface collector (FSC) in the forebay of North Fork Dam on the Clackamas River, Oregon (USA). Imaging sonar can be used to transform active sound waves into visual data, making it possible to obtain continuous underwater observations on the presence and interspecific interactions between predator-size fish and prey (juvenile salmonids). Hourly counts of smolt-size fish tracks, diel phase, water clarity and river discharge were used as covariates within a zero-inflated Poisson model to determine how these factors may influence the number of predators in front of the FSC. Both the number of smolt-size fish tracks and diel phase had the strongest effects on the number of predator-size fish tracks, with more predator-size fish tracks observed during the daytime, and as the number of smolt-size fish tracks increased. Additionally, the presence of predator-size fish may affect the abundance and direction of travel of juvenile salmonids, as fewer smolt-size fish were observed when predators were present, and a greater proportion of smolt-size fish were observed travelling away from the FSC when predator-size fish were present. This study provides estimates of predator and prey fish abundance in the vicinity of surface collection systems at moderate-sized hydropower projects and could help resource managers better understand mechanisms that can influence the survival and passage behaviour of juvenile salmonids using surface collection structures at dams.