The effects of environmental enrichment on hatchery-performance, smolt migration and capture rates in landlocked Atlantic salmon.

ABSTRACT: Enrichment of rearing environment with natural elements has been suggested to improve the welfare and post-release survival of cultured fish. We studied the combined effects of shelter structures, periodical water flow and water level changes on pre- and post-release performance of critically endangered landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar m. sebago). Relative to standard (plain) rearing tanks, provision of enrichment improved fish condition factor and survival during the first year of rearing when most mortality was attributable to parasitic and bacterial infections. The consequent higher density in enriched tanks probably induced greater growth variation and more dorsal fin damages than found in fish of standard tanks. Possibly this was partly due to the applied changes in water level

SUBMITTER: Janhunen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8638868 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature