Evaluation of visible implant elastomer tags for tagging juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus L.); effects on growth, mortality, handling time and tag loss

The use of the fluorescent visible implant elastomer (VIE) tagging system in juvenile gilthead seabream, Sparus auratus L., between 7 and 18 g was examined. Four different colours (red, green, orange and yellow), three body positions (dorsal, lateral and caudal) and two orientations (horizontal and vertical) were tested. The mean tag application time for each fish was 15.7±0.32 s. There was no mortality associated with the method of tagging. The most visible tag colour was red. Injection orientation had a significant effect on length, width, fragmentation and fluorescent intensity of the tag. Horizontal tagging is recommended because of high fluorescent intensity, low fragmentation and for double tagging. There were no differences in growth between untagged controls and the VIE‐tagged fish.     

中国对虾幼虾荧光体内标记技术研究

2004年7月,采用可视嵌入性荧光标记(Visible i mplant elastomer,VIE)对平均体长为4.75cm的中国对虾幼虾进行第6腹节的两部位标记,以研究VIE标记对中国对虾幼虾的适用性。10个家系的幼虾各取30尾,对其中的15尾进行标记,另15尾作为对照,共标记幼虾150尾。本研究分析了标记对虾和对照组的即时死亡率、生长和标记保持率。结果显示,标记对虾和对照组的即时死亡率低,前者为0.6%,后者无死亡。x2检验显示,二者不存在显著差异(P<0.05);通过对30、60d后体长的单因素方差分析,实验组和对照组在体长方面不存在显著差异(P<0.05),表明荧光标记对生长没有影响;标记后30、60d的标记保持率均很高,达到99%以上。2005年7月,对人工定向交尾建立的108个家系(平均体长为4cm)进行了大规模荧光标记,标记后30、60d的标记保持率均在99%以上,越冬后(210d后),对不同标记部位的标记保持情况进行了统计,标记保持率均在90%以上。     

大渡河安谷水电站流域4种增殖放流鱼苗标记方法的初步研究

为了探明适宜大渡河安谷水电站流域增殖放流鱼类标志的方法,在安谷水电站鱼类增殖放流站使用T-tag锚标法(T-tag)、金属线码标法(CWT)和荧光胶体标记法(VIE)分别对四种放流鱼苗(胭脂鱼Myxocyprinus asiaticus、长薄鳅Leptobotia elongate、唇■Hemibarbus labeo和黄颡鱼Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)进行标记。每种鱼苗选择大、小两种规格进行试验。在标记后40 d分别统计了鱼苗的存活率、标记保持率和生长等数据。结果表明:(1)40 d短期标记条件下,CWT和VIE对四种鱼苗的存活率负面影响较小,T-tag对存活率负面影响较大。其中,CWT和VIE对体长50～110 mm小规格放流鱼苗的存活无显著影响,而T-tag导致小规格放流鱼苗存活率显著下降;(2)四种放流鱼苗CWT和VIE标记保持率均显著高于T-tag,其中,除50～80 mm的小规格长薄鳅VIE组标记保持率略低于CWT外,其它各实验组均表现出VIE组大于CWT组;(3)CWT和T-tag标记保持率与标记鱼类生活习性相关性较大,胭脂鱼、长薄鳅标记保持率相对高于唇■、黄颡鱼;(4)三种标记对鱼苗都具有一定的损伤,但与对照组相比标记组存活的鱼苗生长状况均不受影响,其中,四种鱼苗相比唇■的生长速度最快。(5)考虑到T-tag标记具备操作简单、标记快、易辨认等特点,建议使用T-tag标记时鱼苗的全长应大于170 mm。     

三疣梭子蟹的两种标记技术

本研究采用注射可视嵌入性荧光、剪附肢两种手段对不同期别的三疣梭子蟹进行标记,以研究标记的适用性及对个体生长的影响。对不同发育阶段三疣梭子蟹进行两个部位荧光注射,统计蜕壳后可识别率。结果显示,Ⅱ、Ⅲ期幼蟹适合腹面区域注射,Ⅳ期以后幼蟹适合游泳足基节和头胸甲背面的薄膜关节注射;标记后,经过两次蜕壳,识别率在80％以上,但经3次蜕壳后,识别率较低;根据标记组、未标记组生长数据,通过单因素方差分析发现,标记对三疣梭子蟹个体生长无显著性影响。Ⅶ期以后的幼蟹,更适合剪附肢法,该法操作简单、识别率高,对个体生长、存活无显著性影响（P〉0．05）。     

可见植入荧光标记和编码金属标对达乌尔鳇标志效果的初步研究

2011年9月底至2012年5月,采用可见植入荧光标记(VIE)和编码金属标(CWT)标志全长为(28.06±1.79)cm的达乌尔鳇(Huso dauricus),检验了VIE和CWT的标志保持率及其对达乌尔鳇生长和存活的影响。结果显示,经过210 d实验,VIE标志达乌尔鳇吻部腹面,CWT标志达乌尔鳇背部前(第1～2块背骨板间下方肌肉)、中(第6～7块后背骨板间下方肌肉)、后(第11～12块背骨板间下方肌肉)的标志保持率分别为:95.83%、92.00%、92.59%、92.59%。实验中VIE出现破碎、脱落或迁移致使标志可识别性下降;CWT背部中这一标志部位操作最为简便。标志30 d,VIE标志组的保持率较CWT背部不同部位标志组及对照组低,且差异显著(P<0.05),此后31～210 d并无显著性差异。VIE和CWT背部不同部位标志对达乌尔鳇的生长无显著性差异。结果表明,VIE和CWT均可用于标志达乌尔鳇。进行短期大规模达乌尔鳇的标志放流可使用成本相对较低的VIE标志。     

Experimental assessment of the utility of visible implant elastomer tags in a stock improvement programme for giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in Vietnam

An important requirement of many breeding programmes for aquaculture species is the ability to identify organisms individually or at least by family. While a variety of external and internal tagging methods have been developed that can provide efficient identifications systems, most have specific drawbacks. The present study assessed the efficiency of an internal tagging method that can be applied to family selection programmes in crustacean species. Experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of applying visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags to juvenile giant freshwater prawn (GFP). The first experiment assessed performance of VIE tags in juvenile GFP of different size classes and stability of tags placed in different positions in the abdomen with different numbers of tags implanted. The second experiment applied VIE tags in a long term, large scale, field‐based farming experiment. The third experiment tested the reliability of the system. Results showed that juvenile GFP at 2 g were of suitable size for VIE tags with no negative effects evidence on growth and survival. Tag retention rates were above 97.8% in all experiments and tag readability rates were 100% with a correct assignment rate of 95% through to mature animal size of up to 170 g.     

Evaluation of VIE (Visible Implant Elastomer) and PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) physical tagging systems for the identification of red porgy fingerlings (Pagrus pagrus)

The effect of two physical tagging systems, Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT), was evaluated in red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) fingerlings, at different sizes. For VIE tagging, the weight classes were <1 and 1?C5?g and no tag effect was detected on fish growth. There was a significant difference in mortality between tagged and untagged <1?g fish, but not for the 1?C5?g fish. The tag loss rate was null for all sizes, however, tags showed fragmentation. This partial tag loss was evaluated and quantified. Seven VIE colours were compared and arranged from best to worst visibility: green, red, pink, orange, yellow, white and blue. For PIT tagging, 2?C6?g, 5?C10?g and 10?C20?g weight classes were analysed. There was no significant tag effect on fish growth, for any size, nor on mortality from 10?g. Tag loss rate ranged from 2.9 to 5.9%. These results demonstrate that, in red porgy, VIE is a successful tagging system from 2?g onwards whereas PIT system is successful from 10?g onwards. The combination of both systems allows traceability of fish from a very small size on, which is necessary for the implementation of genetic breeding programmes.     

Evaluation of visible implant elastomer tags for pathogenesis research in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Two different colours (red and green) of visible implant elastomer (VIE) were used in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The visibility, location and retention of the VIE tags was investigated and any adverse effects on fish survival and growth determined. The use of VIE tags for monitoring individual fish during a bacterial challenge with either Streptococcus agalactiae or S. iniae was also studied. The results showed that VIE treated fish were lighter but not shorter than the non‐tagged control fish and that tagging caused no mortality. The retention of tags was better at the base of pectoral fin followed by the nasal area, lower abdomen, upper abdomen and branchiostegal rays inside the operculum. During the bacterial challenge experiment individual animals could be easily identified using the VIE tags. In this preliminary study, VIE tagging appears suitable for Nile tilapia research, as with other fish species, and could be a novel method to identify individual animals during microbial pathogenesis studies.     

The suitability of VIE tags to assess stock enhancement success in juvenile European lobsters (Homarus gammarus)

Assessments of stock enhancement programmes for European lobsters (Homarus gammarus) require mark‐recapture analysis of stocked individuals. However, established tag technology is deemed unsuitable for extensive use by many current lobster hatcheries, particularly upon the early juvenile stages. We tested the suitability of fluorescent Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) tags for use in 5‐month‐old juvenile lobsters. Three treatment groups comprising 348 cultured lobsters in total were used to examine survival, growth and tag retention, and to assess mobility, shelter use and moulting behaviours. Tagging had no significant effect on lobster survival, growth, mobility, shelter use or moult frequency. Survival over 7 weeks was 75% among lobsters tagged with two elastomers, 76% in those with one elastomer and 74% among untagged controls. Mortality during moulting did not increase in tagged (6%) compared to untagged lobsters (9%). We found no evidence that VIE tags cause any negative effects that would be expected to inhibit survival upon wild release, but tag loss had reached 12% in both tagged treatments after 7 weeks and showed no sign of abating. Our study suggests that VIEs effectiveness in discerning cultured lobsters long after wild release may be limited when used in smaller juveniles.     

几种标志方法在渔业资源增殖放流中的应用效果

本文简要介绍了在国内外渔业资源增殖放流中通常使用的几种标志技术和方法.同时,阐述了我国在挂牌标志法、切鳍法、荧光标记法、金属线码标记法、分离式卫星标志法和生物标志法等多种标志方法的实际应用状况,分析比较了近年来在东海区增殖放流中传统标志方法和国外引进的先进标志方法的标志效果,文中最后分析探讨了今后标志技术的改进方向和应用前景.     

Laboratory experiment on survival,growth and tag retention following PIT injection into the body cavity of juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta)

A laboratory study was conducted to assess the effect of PIT tagging on survival and growth of young-of-the-year brown trout (Salmo trutta) and evaluate PIT tag loss as a function of body size at tagging. Transponders (11.5 mm long and 2.1 mm in diameter) were injected into the peritoneal cavity of fish ranging from 41 to 70 mm fork length (FL) using hypodermic needles. A total of 145 tagged fish and 136 control fish of similar size were reared over 4 weeks. Logistic regressions show that survival rate reached 95% for fish ≥52 mm FL at tagging (with a tag retention rate >70%), and 99% for fish ≥57 mm FL (tag retention rate >80%). No significant effect of tagging on growth (fork length and weight) was detected at the end of the experiment. The specific growth rate varied markedly among PIT-tagged fish regardless of fork length, weight or tag-to-body-weight ratio at tagging. Results suggest that juvenile brown trout larger than 57 mm FL (tag-to-body weight ratio in water <3.4%) can be marked by injection of 11.5 mm PIT into the peritoneal cavity with negligible effects on survival and growth, but this leads to a relatively high tag rejection rate (up to 20%).     

Tagging juvenile European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus (L.)) with passive integrated transponders—Impact of fish size on growth performance and tag retention

The study examined the effect of PIT tagging and size on the growth, survival, food conversion, tag retention and wound healing in juvenile European whitefish. Three size classes of juvenile whitefish (class S—body weight (b.w.) approx. 4.0 g; class M—b.w. approx. 8.0 g; class L—b.w. approx. 13.6 g) were tagged with PIT implanted intraperitoneally (TROVAN^®, United Kingdom). These groups formed S‐P, M‐P and L‐P respectively. Fish from the control groups (groups S‐C, M‐C and L‐C) were not tagged. Whitefish from the tagged and control groups were reared for 28 days in recirculating aquaculture systems. Only in the fish from the smallest group (group S‐P) was tagging confirmed to have a negative impact on growth rate and survival, which, after 28 days, was 70% in comparison with 94.4% in group S‐C. The rate of wound healing in all whitefish groups was similar. After 28 days following PIT implantation, all wounds were healed. Short‐term PIT retention (28 days) for all the groups was > 90%, and no differences were noted among groups. In summary, it is recommended that whitefish be PIT‐tagged using the intraperitoneal method after they have attained a body weight > 8 g. Tagging smaller specimens of this species leads to higher mortality.     

Fishmeal replacement by soybean,rapeseed and cottonseed meals in hybrid sturgeon Acipenser baerii ♀ × Acipenser schrenckii ♂

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fishmeal (FM) with soybean meal (SBM), rapeseed meal (RM) and cottonseed meal (CSM) on growth, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile hybrid sturgeon Acipenser baerii ♀ × Acipenser schrenckii ♂ (initial body weight, 8.63 ± 0.24 g). Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated as follows: a control diet (FM60) containing 600 g/kg FM and four other diets (FM45, FM30, FM15 and FM0 containing 450, 300, 150 and 0 g/kg FM, respectively) where protein from FM was substituted by a mixture of SBM, RM and CSM. Fish fed FM0 and FM15 had poorer growth performance, feed utilization, apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, protein, lipid and gross energy, and fed FM0 had poorer hepatosomatic index and survival compared with the fish fed FM60. The whole body lipid in fish fed FM0 was significantly higher than that in fish fed FM60 and FM15. This study indicates that 300 g/kg of FM can be replaced with a mixture of SBM, RM and CSM in the diet of juvenile hybrid sturgeon without compromising growth performance, feed utilization and body composition.     

The utility of visible implant (VI) tags for marking tropical river fish

In tropical fisheries where ageing fish is often difficult, tagging programmes offer an important means to estimate growth parameters and mortality rates. The majority of tags are large and attached externally via a puncture in the muscle. These characteristics may cause significant biological effects which bias parameter estimates. Visible implant (VI) tags offer a more benign means to individually mark fish. The utility of VI tags for marking five species of tropical river fish was examined. The results indicate that the tag and tagging operation had no influence on either growth or mortality, although tag retention was poor compared with other studies. For three of the five species, the only suitable tagging location was highly inconspicuous and therefore inappropriate for tagging programmes that rely upon fishermen to return tagged fish. Alternative tagging locations may improve retention rates and the visibility of the tag.     

Requirements for n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in feeding juvenile Iranian sturgeon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acipenser persicus</Emphasis>) and its effects on growth,carcass quality,and fatty acid composition

A 60-day feeding experiment was carried out on juvenile Iranian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) to evaluate the effects of different percentages of canola oil and fish oil containing n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 HUFA) on fish growth and fatty acid composition. The requirement for n-3 HUFA of juvenile Iranian sturgeon (48.4 ± 1.98 g) was studied by feeding the fish with various diets containing six different percentage of n-3 HUFA ranging from 1.56 to 17.25 (% of total fatty acids). Neither the weight gain, feed conversion ratio, condition factor, specific growth rate nor the protein efficiency ratio showed any significant differences between the dietary treatments nor in the body composition of juvenile Iranian sturgeon (P > 0.05); also there were no significant difference with respect to the effect of the dietary treatment (P > 0.05) on the blood parameters, for the content of plasma protein, glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride. The fatty acid composition of the carcass of the Iranian sturgeon fed with the diets containing various levels of n-3 HUFA was reflected by the dietary fatty acid composition. The content of n-3 HUFA in the fish increased with an increase in dietary n-3 HUFA levels. The results indicate that the dietary n-3 HUFA had no effect on the growth of juvenile Iranian sturgeon.     

Determination of optimal feeding rates for juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) fed a formulated dry diet

Two 3‐week growth trials were performed to determine the optimum feeding rate of juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) fed with a semi‐purified dry diet (protein, 440 g; lipid, 130 g/kg) at different feeding rates: 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/kg body weight per day (BW/.d‐1), for 36 g‐sized fish; and 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 30 g/kg BW/.d‐1, for 80 g sized fish. Feeding rates significantly influenced growth performances, feed conversion ratio, wholebody lipid and moisture contents, energy and protein retention, and fasted blood glucose levels (p < 0.05). The ratio of total C/total N measured in whole fish was positively correlated to the feeding rates and the lipid contents of whole fish. Suboptimal feeding significantly depressed growth performance and protein synthesis based on the measurement of RNA/DNA ratio in white muscle. Based on polynomial regression models, an optimal feeding rate to support the maximum growth, protein and energy retention was 34.5, 22 and 27.3 g/kg BW/.d‐1, respectively, for fish sized at 36–72 g; and 29.0, 16.9 and 19.9 g/kg BW/.d‐1, respectively for fish sized at 80–140 g. Results of this study will benefit future research to develop practical feeds to replace frozen live feed and feed management for lake sturgeon.     

A comparison of the effect of three common tagging methods on the survival of the galatheid Munida rugosa (Fabricius, 1775)

Three tagging methods – T-bar tags, streamer tags and visual implant elastomer (VIE) – were tested on Munida rugosa and survival was monitored for 8 weeks. The VIE technique appeared not to affect survival (95% survival after 60 d). T-bar tags did not significantly affect short-term survival either, but there was a gradual increase in mortality (52% after 60 d) associated with the presence of black necrotic tissue around the tag wound, suggesting delayed mortality due to infection. Streamer tags as applied in the study are not suitable for this species, since short-term mortality was high (38% survival after 10 d). In conclusion, VIE was found to be the best type of tag to use on M. rugosa, although it is not as visible to the casual observer as the other types, which could be an important consideration if recapture reports from fishers are an important element of a mark-recapture study.     

A comparison of five external marks for Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Five external marks (Panjet, visible implant tag, hot brand, anal finclip and fluorescent pigment) were compared for retention and effect on marine survival in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., ranching experiments aimed at complementing coded wire tagging. Only fluorescent pigment marks and Panjet marks were found to be effective, with retention rates of 76.9% and 90.0% respectively, after one year at sea. The Panjet was the only mark to significantly reduce marine survival ( P < 0.001) compared with controls.     

连江倒刺鲃的标志放流试验

为研究倒刺鲃人工增殖放流中的生长发育等规律,探讨恢复连江这一传统特色经济鱼类资源的有效方法,于2014年11月采用荧光色素标记方法,在连江阳山段对3×10~4尾倒刺鲃鱼苗进行标志放流试验。基于回捕数据对倒刺鲃的回捕率、标志保留率及生长情况进行分析,进而对连江倒刺鲃标志放流的方法做出初步评价。试验结果表明,利用流刺网等捕捞工具对倒刺鲃进行回捕,截至2016年5月共回捕倒刺鲃275尾,回捕率为0.92%。对回捕鱼的标记保留情况进行统计,发现标志保留率随时间的增加而降低。在回捕的前几个月内,荧光标志仍肉眼可辨,自第7个月开始荧光标志开始变得逐渐模糊,1年之后标志逐渐消失。标志鱼在放流后6个月生长缓慢,之后生长加快。协方差分析表明,倒刺鲃在放流水域的生长比池塘养殖和自然群体更具优势,说明放流水域属于放流条件较佳水域。综上所述,本研究基本达到标志放流预期目的,但应继续优化标志放流策略。     

Tetracycline Immersion Tagging of Cuttlefish,Sepiella japonica,Larvae

This paper describes the results of tetracycline immersion as a means to tag Sepiella japonica larvae, as well as the toxicity of this approach. The purpose of this study was to differentiate wild and artificially bred cuttlefish using tetracycline marking. We studied the effects of tetracycline immersion and marking on cuttlefish larvae with mantle length of 0.45–0.8 cm. To use the optimum concentration of tetracycline for tagging, the toxicity of tetracycline immersion was determined prior to the tagging experiments. All the cuttlebones were successfully marked in yellow and the tag was clearly visible without any assistive tools after the beginning of the experiment. A positive correlation was found between immersion time and depth of tag color. We conclude that tetracycline immersion marking is an effective mass‐tagging method for S. japonica.