Salinity tolerance of cultured Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis L.: Effects on growth and on survival as a function of temperature

Eurasian perch is generally only considered to be a candidate for freshwater aquaculture even though wild populations are found in estuarine and brackish water habitats. Little knowledge exists on two issues a) the effect of temperature on the salinity tolerance of perch and b) the long-term effects of brackish water on their overall growth performance. The present study addresses these two questions.

Firstly, the effect of temperature (12, 15, 20 and 25°C) on perch survival of a salinity challenge at either 13 or 18‰ was determined. Survival was unaffected by 13‰ at the two lowest temperatures whereas higher temperature and higher salinities had a dramatic detrimental effect (at 25°C, 50% mortality was reach at 62h and 39h for 13‰ and 18‰, respectively). Secondly, we examined the effect of salinity on growth, which was assessed by measuring standard length and body weight at regular intervals for 130days. In addition, Specific growth rate (SGR), Fulton's condition factor (K) and food conversion ratio (FCR) were also calculated as was the effect of salinity on plasma osmolality, blood ion content (Na⁺, Cl^?, K⁺) and muscle water content at the termination of the experiment. The optimum growth for this study was seen in the lowest salinities at 0 and 4‰. Surprisingly, even small increases in salinity were detrimental to perch growth. At 10‰, growth in terms of body weight was reduced by about 50% after 130days compared to perch reared in freshwater.

Interest in brackish water production of perch would be most likely served best by selecting a strain of perch that is adapted to saline conditions, as found in the lower Baltic region. Further studies are required to understand the potential for brackish water perch production.