Mortality of salmonids cultured at low temperature in sea water

Abstract

Brook trout, rainbow trout, and Atlantic salmon were acclimated to sea water (30‰ S) and placed during autumn in floating cages in a concrete tide pool. The salmon (mean length ca 26 cm in mid-October) grew about 2 cm before they stopped feeding in December. The brook trout (19 cm) and rainbow trout (21 cm) grew little, if any, during December. Feeding by the rainbow trout and salmon continued until temperature fell below 1°C. The brook trout fed little, if any, during December while temperature fell from 4 to 1°C. Brook trout, particularly the mature individuals, had high mortality rates from the time they were put into sea water. Blood plasma osmolalities indicated that brook trout, but not the other species, were under severe osmotic stress in sea water. Most of the fish (all three species) died in a 4-day period during early January when the water cooled to −0.7 to −0.8°C. A temperature of −0.7°C is a reasonable approximation of the lower lethal temperature for these salmonids at 30‰ salinity. Based on our observations, it is not practicable to hold the above species in sea water which is likely to get colder than 1°C because of poor growth and the risk of mortality.