Assessment of dissolved gases and temperature on Atlantic salmon broodstock maturation

Description

The British Columbia Atlantic salmon farming industry relies on quality gametes from broodstock resident in British Columbia. It is suspected by the salmon farming industry that dissolved gas levels in sea pen broodstock holding facilities and transportation tanks may be adversely affecting the maturation process and causing poor egg quality and larval abnormalities. A literature search indicates that research into the influence of low oxygen on fish maturation has shown no clear effect (Berg et al. 1996) and has barely been addressed (Dabrowski et al. 2003). The possible consequences of low oxygen levels (levels of 4 or less mg/L have been reported) may have a direct impact on the broodstock by increasing pre-spawning mortality, as well as influencing the release of sex hormones during vitellogenesis and ovulation. The possible adverse effects of CO₂ build-up during fish broodstock transport in closed systems has been brought up by the salmon farming industry; with tests to filter out or reduce these levels are of interest. Finally, the adverse influence of high water temperature during maturation has also been noted (Jensen et al. 2004, Jensen et al. 2005).

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2006 to 2008

Ecoregion(s)

Pacific: Vancouver Island West Coast

Principal Investigator(s)

John Jensen
Email: JensenJ@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca