Effects of different rearing environments on the mortality of Atlantic salmon broodstock and eggs

Abstract

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared for three years in seawater were moved to brackish- and freshwater before they matured. A control group matured in seawater. The groups were given different feeding regimes the last months before maturation. Mortality of maturing and stripped broodfish was lower in both the brackish and freshwater than that in seawater. Eggs stripped from fresh- or brackish water showed significant lower mortalities to the eyed stage than eggs stripped from seawater. There was no significant differences in mortality to the eyed stage between groups of eggs stripped from brackish and fresh water. Starvation of Atlantic salmon broodstock four months prior to spawning did not seem to adversely affect egg quality.