Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2013
Fin erosion and injuries in relation to adult recapture rates in cultured smolts of Atlantic salmon and brown trout
Petersson, Erik; Karlsson, Lars; Ragnarsson, Bjarne; Bryntesson, Marcus; Berglund, Anders; Stridsman, Stefan; Jonsson, SaraAbstract
The implications of fin erosion and other injuries that are directly or indirectly caused by the hatchery environment have long been debated. Fin condition has been regarded as an indicator of welfare in fish farms, but until now there has been little evidence that eroded fins have negative effects on survival after stocking in the wild. Based on over 40 years of tagging and recapture data, we show that Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with dorsal fin erosion and brown trout (Salmo trutta) with any kind of injuries had lower recapture rates than fish without injuries. In salmon, precocious mature males had a lower probability of being recaptured compared with immature fish. Data from a hatchery monitoring program indicated that the degree of fin erosion on the dorsal fin in salmon and on the caudal fin in trout was correlated with the number of other injuries. We conclude that fin erosion and other injuries may reduce the probability of survival after release. All actions in the hatcheries to reduce fin erosion and other injuries will most likely be positive for the long-term outcome of the stocking programs.Keywords
fin erosion, Atlantic salmon, brown trout, Salmo salar, Salmo trutta, stockingPublished in
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences2013, volume: 70, number: 6, pages: 915-921
Publisher: CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS
Authors' information
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Karlsson, Lars
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Ragnarsson, Bjarne
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Bryntesson, Marcus
County Administrative Board, Västernorrland
Berglund, Anders
County Administrative Board, Västernorrland
Stridsman, Stefan
County Administrative Board Norrbotten
Jonsson, Sara
County Administrative Board, Västernorrland
Associated SLU-program
Lakes and watercourses
UKÄ Subject classification
Fish and Aquacultural Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2012-0247
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/52215