The effects of prolonged exercise training on growth performance and production parameters in fish

When juvenile salmonids are reared in water flowing with currents equivalent to swimming speeds of about 0.75–1.5 BL s^–1, the fish tend to grow faster and make more efficient use of the food provided than do conspecifics held in standing water. There may be a more even distribution of food within a group of exercised fish leading to uniformity of growth rates and a reduced size range of the fish at harvest. In addition, frequencies of aggressive interactions may be lower in exercised fish than in those reared in standing water, leading to fewer exercised fish having fin damage. Thus, several benefits may be expected to accrue from growing salmonids in flowing water. The training of salmonids by exposing them to moderate water currents for prolonged periods leads to improvements in physiological performance, so rearing such fish in flowing, rather than standing, water may be particularly beneficial when they are destined for release in connection with restocking or ranching programmes.