Migratory behaviour of adult wild and escaped farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., before, during and after spawning in a Norwegian river

The migratory behaviour of adult wild and escaped farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., before, during after spawning in the River Namsen, Norway, was analysed using radio telemetry. The fish were caught, radio tagged and released into the fjord between 7 and 25 km from the river mouth. A significantly higher proportion of wild (74%) than farmed (43%) salmon was subsequently recorded in the river. Wild salmon (33%) were more frequently captured in the sea and in rivers than farmed salmon (14%). The migration speed from release to passing a data logger 11 km upstream from the river mouth was not significantly different between wild (20.6 km day^?1) and farmed (19.8 km day^?1) salmon. Wild salmon tagged when water flow in the river was increasing had a significantly higher migration speed than wild salmon tagged when water flow was decreasing. This was not true for farmed salmon. Farmed salmon were distributed significantly higher up the river than wild salmon during spawning, although both types of fish were found together in spawning areas. Thus, there was no geographical isolation to prevent spawning between wild and escaped farmed salmon. Farmed salmon had significantly more and longer up- and downstream movements than wild salmon during the spawning period. Unlike farmed salmon, the number of riverine movements by wild salmon increased significantly when variation in water flow increased. A smaller proportion of wild (9%) than farmed (77%) salmon survived through the winter after spawning.     

Prespawning migratory behaviour of wild and farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L, in a north Norwegian river

The migration patterns of wild and released farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were studied by radio-telemetry during migration from entering a river to after spawning. The wild salmon were caught during return migration in bagnets and the farmed salmon were produced in a near by fish farm. Both groups were tagged and released at sea near the river mouth of the River Alta, North Norway. A pronounced individual variation in migration pattern was observed. No significant differences was found between wild and farmed salmon in the distance from entering the river mouth to the place of the first stop (recorded in the same pool for 5 days or longer) and the days from entering the river mouth to arrival at the first stop. For both wild and farmed salmon, mean migration speed was 2.6 km day¹, varying from 0.4 to 11.0 km day^-1. A larger proportion of farmed salmon distributed to the upper part of the river at spawning; mean distances from the river mouth were 30.1 and 19.1 km. respectively. Farmed salmon spent a significantly longer time from entering the river to reaching the area occupied during spawning.     

Outbreak of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) in lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) in Iceland caused by VHS virus genotype IV

A novel viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) of genotype IV was isolated from wild lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus), brought to a land‐based farm in Iceland, to serve as broodfish. Two groups of lumpfish juveniles, kept in tanks in the same facility, got infected. The virus isolated was identified as VHSV by ELISA and real‐time RT‐PCR. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the glycoprotein (G) gene sequences, may indicate a novel subgroup of VHSV genotype IV. In controlled laboratory exposure studies with this new isolate, there was 3% survival in the I.P. injection challenged group while there was 90% survival in the immersion group. VHSV was not re‐isolated from fish challenged by immersion. In a cohabitation trial, lumpfish infected I.P. (shedders) were placed in tanks with naïve lumpfish as well as naïve Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). 10% of the lumpfish shedders and 43%–50% of the cohabiting lumpfish survived after 4 weeks. 80%–92% of the Atlantic salmon survived, but no viral RNA was detected by real‐time RT‐PCR nor VHSV was isolated from Atlantic salmon. This is the first isolation of a notifiable virus in Iceland and the first report of VHSV of genotype IV in European waters.     

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.     

Piscine reovirus (PRV) in wild Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L., and sea‐trout,Salmo trutta L., in Norway

This is the first comprehensive study on the occurrence and distribution of piscine reovirus (PRV) in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., caught in Norwegian rivers. PRV is a newly discovered reovirus associated with heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), a serious and commercially important disease affecting farmed Atlantic salmon in Norway. A cross‐sectional survey based on real‐time RT‐PCR screening of head kidney samples from wild, cultivated and escaped farmed Atlantic salmon caught from 2007 to 2009 in Norwegian rivers has been conducted. In addition, anadromous trout (sea‐trout), Salmo trutta L., caught from 2007 to 2010, and anadromous Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), caught from 2007 to 2009, were tested. PRV was detected in Atlantic salmon from all counties included in the study and in 31 of 36 examined rivers. PRV was also detected in sea‐trout but not in anadromous Arctic char. In this study, the mean proportion of PRV positives was 13.4% in wild Atlantic salmon, 24.0% in salmon released for stock enhancement purposes and 55.2% in escaped farmed salmon. Histopathological examination of hearts from 21 PRV‐positive wild and one cultivated salmon (Ct values ranging from 17.0 to 39.8) revealed no HSMI‐related lesions. Thus, it seems that PRV is widespread in Atlantic salmon returning to Norwegian rivers, and that the virus can be present in high titres without causing lesions traditionally associated with HSMI.     

Effects of stocking density on growth performance and welfare‐related physiological parameters of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. in recirculating aquaculture system

Stocking density, representing a potential source of long‐term stress, is widely recognized as a critical factor in aquaculture husbandry. Atlantic salmon were reared at low‐density (LSD, ~9.80–18.41 kg m^?3, initial to final density), medium‐density (MSD, ~19.62–36.96 kg m^?3) and high‐density (HSD, ~28.79–53.54 kg m^?3) stocking levels for 66 days to investigate the stress‐induced changes in fish growth and welfare. At the end of the trial, the salmon in HSD group showed significant lower final weight and higher ration level than those in MSD and LSD groups (P < 0.05). The salmon farmed in LSD group had higher special growth rate (SGR) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.05). However, stocking density could not affect the mortality, condition factor and coefficient of variation of salmon. The pectoral fin index of salmon in LSD group was significantly higher than that in HSD group (P < 0.05). Fifteen haematological and serum parameters were detected to assess the stress and welfare levels of salmon. The salmon farmed in HSD group had higher glucose (GLU) level and lower Cl^?, haemoglobin (HGB) and red blood cell (RBC) concentrations (P < 0.05). Contrast to the pattern of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the cortisol, maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of HSD group were higher than those in other two groups (P < 0.05). All these findings will provide a reference for selecting suitable stocking density in Atlantic salmon farming industry.     

Preliminary study on broodstock rearing,induced breeding and grow‐out culture of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra in Sri Lanka

Experiments were conducted to identify suitable methods for broodstock rearing, induced breeding and grow‐out culture of Holothuria scabra in Sri Lanka. Two hundred and seventy‐two brooders (500–600 g) collected from off Mannar were individually packed in oxygen‐filled polythene bags with and without sea water and transported to a sea cucumber hatchery at Kalpitiya. Lagoon pens, sand‐filled fibreglass tanks and bare tanks were used in triplicates to maintain brooders. Spawning was initiated using air dry, water jet and thermal‐stimulation methods. Hatchery produced juveniles with an average weight of 11 ± 5 g were reared (2 individuals m^?2) in lagoon pens, mud ponds and fibreglass tanks in triplicates. The significantly high evisceration rate was observed when brooders were transported without sea water (t‐test, P < 0.05). Brooders maintained in bare tanks showed a significant weight reduction than the brooders in sand‐filled tanks and lagoon pens (anova , P < 0.05, d.f. = 2). Thermal stimulation (ambient temperature ± 3–5°C) was found to be the most successful method of spawning initiation of H. scabra. The mean (±SD) percentage males and females participated for spawning per trial was 9.2 (±10) and 4.6 (±5.6) respectively. On an average, 1.16 millions of eggs (±1.03 SD, n = 5) were obtained per spawning trial. H. scabra juveniles reared in tanks showed significantly lower growth rate than the juveniles in pens and ponds (anova , P < 0.05). Lagoon pens and sand‐filled tanks are suitable to maintain brooders and lagoon pens can be successfully used for mass rearing of juveniles.     

Incidence and timing of wild and escaped farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Norwegian rivers inferred from video surveillance monitoring

Run timing of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar vs. wild fish was compared by the use of video camera surveillance in 15 rivers over several years, covering 1600 km of the Norwegian coastline (from 58°N to 69°N). Annual runs of wild salmon varied among rivers from <200 fish to more than 10 000. During the surveillance period that for most rivers extended from late May to early October, larger‐sized salmon (fish ≥ 65 cm) generally entered the rivers earlier than small fish. The percentage of salmon identified as escaped farmed fish ranged from 0.1% to 17% across rivers with an average of 4.3%. Estimates of escapees are, however, assumed to represent minimum values because an unknown number of farmed fish passing the video cameras may have been misclassified as wild fish. By the use of a linear mixed model and generalised additive mixed models, it was found that the relationship between run timing and fish length differed significantly between farmed and wild salmon. While small‐sized farmed and wild fish (<65 cm) entered the river at about the same time, wild large salmon returned on average 1–2 weeks earlier than similarly sized escapees. The proportion of large‐sized farmed escapees also increased until late August and decreased thereafter. In contrast, there was a relatively constant and lower proportion of small‐sized escapees throughout the season. Within the surveillance period, there was no evidence of any exceptionally late runs of fish classified as escaped farmed salmon.     

A historical review of the key bacterial and viral pathogens of Scottish wild fish

Thousands of Scottish wild fish were screened for pathogens by Marine Scotland Science. A systematic review of published and unpublished data on six key pathogens (Renibacterium salmoninarum, Aeromonas salmonicida, IPNV, ISAV, SAV and VHSV) found in Scottish wild and farmed fish was undertaken. Despite many reported cases in farmed fish, there was a limited number of positive samples from Scottish wild fish, however, there was evidence for interactions between wild and farmed fish. A slightly elevated IPNV prevalence was reported in wild marine fish caught close to Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms that had undergone clinical IPN. Salmonid alphavirus was isolated from wild marine fish caught near Atlantic salmon farms with a SAV infection history. Isolations of VHSV were made from cleaner wrasse (Labridae) used on Scottish Atlantic salmon farms and VHSV was detected in local wild marine fish. However, these pathogens have been detected in wild marine fish caught remotely from aquaculture sites. These data suggest that despite the large number of samples taken, there is limited evidence for clinical disease in wild fish due to these pathogens (although BKD and furunculosis historically occurred) and they are likely to have had a minimal impact on Scottish wild fish.     

An ecological–economic model on the effects of interactions between escaped farmed and wild salmon (Salmo salar)

This study explores the ecological and economic impacts of interactions between escaped farmed and wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, Salmonidae) over generations. An age‐ and stage‐structured bioeconomic model is developed. The biological part of the model includes age‐specific life‐history traits such as survival rates, fecundity and spawning successes for wild and escaped farmed salmon, as well as their hybrids, while the economic part takes account of use and non‐use values of fish stock. The model is simulated under three scenarios using data from the Atlantic salmon fishery and salmon farming in Norway. The social welfare is derived from harvest and wild salmon while the economic benefits of fishing comprise both sea and river fisheries. The results reveal that the wild salmon stock is gradually replaced by salmon with farmed origin, while the total social welfare and economic benefit decline, although not at the same rate as the wild salmon stock.     

Performance of Different Types of Commercial Feeds on the Growth of Juvenile Silver Pomfret, Pampus argenteus, under Tank Culture Conditions

The present study was carried out using juveniles of silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus, produced in the hatchery by stripping eggs from spawners collected from the wild during 2004 and 2005 culture period. The experiments carried out during 2004 investigated the efficiency of using salmon feed mixed with cyclopeeze, salmon feed mixed with shrimp meat, salmon feed alone, and shrimp meat alone in the diet using 1 m³ capacity round fiberglass tanks in three replicates for each treatment with flow‐through seawater. The results showed that inclusion of shrimp meat in the diet either with salmon feed or alone give significantly high (P < 0.01) weight gain of up to 1.10 ± 0.06 g/fish/d and significantly lower (P < 0.001) feed conversion ratio compared to that of feeds without shrimp meat. The experiments carried out during 2005 investigated the use of commercially available feeds with feed additives. The results showed that feeding with “Gemma” feed with 54.0% crude protein and 19.0% crude fat or salmon feed with 41.4% crude protein and 23.9% crude fat give significantly high (P < 0.01) growth rates compared to that of pompano feed with 43.0% crude protein and 6.0% crude fat. The results of these investigations although show high growth rate of the fish compared to that of previous observations; there is yet an urgent need to formulate a suitable feed for this fish species for commercial ventures.     

Endurance of farmed and sea-ranched Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. at spawning

Endurance of farmed and sea-ranched Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. males was analysed during spawning time. The fish were endurance tested at different swimming speeds (1.6–2.1 m s^?1) in forced swim trials. The sea-ranched males (51-65 cm, n= 20) fatigued significantly earlier than the farmed males(59-72 cm, n= 20),although the sea-ranched males were significantly smaller than the farmed males. When the size difference between the two groups were corrected for, no significant difference in the endurance of the two groups was found. Farmed salmon had a significant higher fat content in white muscle (4.7%) than sea-ranched salmon (1.1%).     

Arteriosclerosis in the ventral aorta and epicarditis in the bulbus arteriosus of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L)

Spontaneous mortality of seemingly healthy, farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) is an increasing problem in Norwegian aquaculture. In this study, we present a morphological study of the previously undescribed syndrome of arteriosclerosis of the ventral aorta and epicarditis of the adjacent bulbus arteriosus found in farmed Atlantic salmon, with wild‐captured fish as a control group. Both the ventral aorta and epicardium are vital for correct arterial compliance and vascular resistance in the respiratory capillaries of the gills. We discuss the possible implications of ventral aorta arteriosclerosis and epicarditis for blood vascular health and in particular for the increasing frequency of spontaneous gill bleeding in farmed salmon. As both these conditions primarily occur in farmed salmon, we suggest that they should be considered pathological.     

Size heterogeneity can reduce aggression and promote growth in Atlantic salmon parr

Aggression in groups of 0+ Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was monitoredat weekly intervals in two tanks containing 100 fish each. Three 1 + salmonparr were added to one of these. After 5 weeks, fish weights were measuredin both tanks and the conditions reversed. At ten weeks, weights of fish inboth tanks were measured again. In both populations, levels of aggressionamong the smaller fish were significantly lower and growth ratessignificantly higher when the large fish were present. Although the largefish attacked the small ones, the rate at which they did so was an order ofmagnitude lower that the rate at which small fish attacked each other in theabsence of larger conspecifics. This raises the possibility that levels ofaggression among farmed salmon might be reduced by the addition of a fewlarge conspecifics.     

Evaluation of sea lice abundance levels on farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) located in the Broughton Archipelago of British Columbia from 2003 to 2005

Salmon farming began in British Columbia (BC) in the 1970s and in 2006, aquaculture represented BC's largest agricultural export. Along with this growth in production has been a growth in controversy, including the concern that sea lice originating from Atlantic salmon farms negatively impact wild juvenile pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago. To understand the dynamic interaction between wild and farmed fish, data for on‐farm abundance of sea lice are required. In this study, 33 000 Atlantic salmon from 20 active farms were examined over 3 years. Two species of lice were found: Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus clemensi. Inter‐annual and seasonal variations in abundance levels occurred with lower levels of L. salmonis in 2003 compared with 2004 and 2005, while C. clemensi levels were highest in 2003. The abundance of L. salmonis was greater on older farmed fish. The findings are compared with European and eastern Canadian sea lice reports, and possible sources of sea lice on farmed salmon are discussed.     

Size heterogeneity, growth potential and aggression in juvenile yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi Valenciennes)

The ontogenetic development of size heterogeneity and aggression was monitored in commercial culture tanks of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi Valenciennes). Size heterogeneity increased substantially with the introduction of Artemia as a food source at 12 days post‐hatch (DPH), and was correlated with the appearance of aiming behaviour, a precursor to more direct aggressive interactions. Chasing behaviour started at approximately 19 DPH (10–12 mm total length), with the main aggressors being large‐grade individuals comprising 8% of the population. At any one time, only 10–30% of this grade carried out all of the chases, meaning that a very small proportion of the entire population (1%) was responsible for most of the aggressive interactions. The main recipients of aggression were the small grade, comprising 42% of the population, while the medium grade (50% of the population) were generally not aggressive and received only a low to moderate level of aggression. A grading trial showed that large‐grade juveniles only displayed aggressive behaviour in the presence of size heterogeneity, and that medium‐ or small‐grade juveniles did not establish an agonistic hierarchy in the absence of large individuals. A high level of aggression in the ungraded control treatment was associated with mortality of most of the small individuals. Even in the absence of aggression, the small‐grade juveniles failed to gain weight or show an increase in the RNA/DNA ratio after 12 days. The large‐ and medium‐grade larvae showed an isometric increase in RNA/DNA ratio during development, indicating that faster‐growing individuals are likely the result of better food capture or processing traits rather than better protein synthesis rates. Decreasing size heterogeneity and aggression via grading mostly benefits the medium‐grade individuals, as the majority of small individuals within a batch appear to be on a degenerative developmental trajectory irrespective of an aggressive environment.     

Territorial and agonistic interactions between farmed and wild cod (Gadus morhua)

Studies of contest competition between wild and farmed fish have mostly focused on fish with strongly territorial behaviour. Little is known about species with more plastic social behaviour, such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), a species that can either aggressively defend territories or shoal. There is also concern that cod that escape from farms will compete with wild populations. We examined dyadic contest competition between wild and farmed juvenile cod using an intruder–resident experimental set‐up in the laboratory. No prior residency advantage was observed, but the differences between farmed and wild cod were clear. Farmed cod were more submissive than wild cod and fled earlier during contests, which suggests that wild fish often out‐compete farmed intruders. Both fish types initiated aggression earlier against fish of the same background. A multivariate analysis of 11 different behavioural traits indicated that a group of 59% of farmed fish were behaviourally very similar to the 55% most submissive wild fish. These results suggest that wild juvenile cod may be quite robust towards competition for food and shelter from juvenile farmed cod, but further research is needed to verify this pattern.     

Anisakid larva in the viscera of a farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Parasitic nematodes of the family Anisakidae occur in the visceral cavity and surrounding tissues of many marine fish species at a prevalence as high as 100% in wild salmon samples. Human consumption of fish products containing these parasites can result in the zoonotic disease anisakiasis, and Anisakis simplex is most commonly associated with human disease. Previous studies of farmed salmon have found no anisakids in viscera or muscle, presumably because formulated feed production renders parasite larvae nonviable. However, among farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) examined by histopathology as part of a provincial government auditing program in British Columbia, Canada, 1 of 894 (0.11%) had an anisakid larva partly embedded in the wall of an intestinal cecum. Skeletal muscle is not examined as part of the government's program, but other studies have correlated anisakids in the viscera and muscle. Using anisakid prevalence in viscera as an estimate of its prevalence in muscle, the risk ratio of anisakid parasites in commercial product is 570 times less in farmed than in wild Atlantic salmon.     

Fillet Quality and Processing Attributes of Postsmolt Atlantic Salmon,Salmo salar,Fed a Fishmeal‐free Diet and a Fishmeal‐based Diet in Recirculation Aquaculture Systems

Many studies have evaluated the adequacy of alternate ingredient diets for Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, mainly with focus on fish performance and health; however, comprehensive analysis of fillet quality is lacking, particularly for salmon fed these diets in recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS). To this end, a study was conducted comparing fillet quality and processing attributes of postsmolt Atlantic salmon fed a fishmeal‐free diet (FMF) versus a standard fishmeal‐based diet, in replicate RAS. Mean weight of Atlantic salmon fed both diets was 1.72 kg following the 6‐mo trial and survival was >99%. Diet did not affect (P > 0.05) processing and fillet yields, whole‐body proximate composition(fat, moisture, protein), fillet proximate composition, cook yield, fillet texture, color, or omega‐3 fatty acid fillet content, including eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels. Whole‐body ash content was greater in salmon fed the FMF diet. The FMF diet resulted in a wild fish‐in to farmed fish‐out ratio of 0:1 per Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch criteria due to its fishmeal‐free status and use of lipids from fishery byproduct. Overall, fillet quality and processing attributes were generally unaffected when feeding a diet devoid of fishmeal to postsmolt Atlantic salmon cultured in RAS. [Correction added on 7 September 2017, after first online publication: the P value in Abstract has been changed from “P < 0.05” to “P > 0.05”.].