Research Document - 2015/003

Biocontainment measures to reduce/mitigate potential post-escape interactions between cultured European-origin and wild native Atlantic salmon in Newfoundland

By Tillmann J. Benfey

Abstract

This paper reviews the literature and makes recommendations on biocontainment measures to reduce or mitigate potential post-escape interactions between farmed European-origin and wild native Atlantic salmon in the south coast of Newfoundland. In the absence of effective measures to prevent the escape of farmed salmon or to recapture them post-escape, the only effective method to minimize their impacts on wild populations is to ensure that farmed populations are comprised solely of sterile fish through the use of all-female triploids. The technology for producing all-female triploid populations is simple and easily applied on a commercial scale, and routinely results in populations that are entirely female and more than 98% triploid. Aside from sterility, there are no population-wide phenotypic effects of triploidy, although triploids do tend to perform less well than diploids with respect to commercial culture characteristics and, if released to the wild, are not likely to outcompete or displace native salmon. Some uncertainties do exist with respect to their disease resistance and their potential to become reservoirs for the spread of pathogens to wild populations. If the spawning potential of escaped European-origin Atlantic salmon is deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to native Atlantic salmon populations in the south coast of Newfoundland, then all-female triploid populations could be used to reduce risk. Research should continue to focus on improvement of triploid performance through breeding programs and optimization of husbandry, including nutrition, rearing environment, and fish health.

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