The influence of a stimulated transportation of newly fertilized Atlantic salmon eggs on mortality to the eyed stage

Abstract

Transport of newly fertilized eggs has often resulted in severe mortality of the eggs during incubation to the eyed stage. To investigate the effect of transport on mortality, pooled eggs from several females were handled through a simulated transportation experiment after fertilization and swelling. Egg groups handled in different ways and duration were incubated separately to the eyed stage and mortality was registered. The results showed variable mortality figures but there was increased mortality for egg groups handled for a longer period after fertilization. The mortality also seemed dependent upon how the eggs were handled. The reasons to mortality as a result of handling is not known and more work is needed to investigate this.