Research Document 1998/166

Use of triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) for aquaculture

By T. Benfey

Abstract

Induced triploidy is the only effective method presently available in Canada for the mass production of reproductively sterile salmonids for aquaculture. Pilot-scale culture of triploid Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick has revealed that these fish survive and grow well during freshwater smolt production, but less well during marine sea-cage grow-out to market size. Repeated studies at the Atlantic Salmon Federation's hatchery showed only minor differences between triploids and diploids in survival to S1 smolt age (15 mo), percentage of the population which became S1 smolts, and mean S1 smolt size. However, a similar study at a commercial hatchery was terminated due to exeptionally high mortality of triploids prior to the start of feeding. Marine grow-out trials in sea-cages showed that triploids grew well in seawater, but had reduced survival rates (leading to a 5 to 15% reduction in yield at harvest) and high rates of jaw abnormalities compared to diploids. Similar results have been reported with triploid Atlantic salmon in Newfoundland, British Columbia, Washington State, Scotland and Tasmania. Although induced triploidy can be used effectively as a management tool to ensure lack of reproduction in Atlantic salmon, it would at present be difficult to obtain the aquaculture industry's support to switch to their large-scale use. In light of fundamental biological differences between triploids and diploids, it is perhaps somewhat naive to expect triploids to perform as well as diploids using standard salmon culture methods. Triploids should be treated as a new species for aquaculture development, beginning with research to determine their optimum rearing requirements.

Complete document (PDF, 714 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.