SMOLTPRO

-sustainable smolt production, an integrated approach Jrgen I. Johnsson

www.smoltpro.gu.se

WHAT IS SMOLTPRO? A(M )A"*+RO,-. R/S/AR"0 O,TR/A"0

A four- ear strategic pro!ect funded b the Swedish Research "ouncil #ormas Started in $anuar %&'&

www.smoltpro.gu.se

WHAT IS SMOLTPRO? A(M )A"*+RO,-. R/S/AR"0 O,TR/A"0

A four- ear strategic pro!ect funded b the Swedish Research "ouncil #ormas Started in $anuar %&'& (ncludes '1 senior researchers, 2 post-docs and 3 Ph. students from Scandina4ia and "anada

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The SMOLTPRO team

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Aims
To de4elop ecologically and ethically sound methods for supplementar rearing of salmonids, using a multidisciplinar approach
Aims

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Aims
To de4elop ecologically and ethically sound methods for supplementar rearing of salmonids, using a multidisciplinar approach

To increase the socioeconomic returns of hatcher -produced salmon and trout in Sweden and Scandina4ia

www.smoltpro.gu.se

5+'
0atcher e6perimental design and sampling

5+%
Post-release e6periments

5+2
Meta anal sis of e6isting data

SMOLTPRO

5+8
Sta9e holder interactions and outreach

5+7
/conomic and ethical anal sis

Develo ment o! ne" hatchery guidelines !or sustaina#le smolt www.smoltpro.gu.se roduction

50AT (S SMOLTPRO: A(M )A"*+RO,-. R&S&AR'H Main ;uestions 5or9 groups Methods Model systems O,TR/A"0

/6periments in !ull$scale model systems to e4aluate the generalit of www.smoltpro.gu.se effects across climate %ones in the

50AT (S SMOLTPRO: A(M )A"*+RO,-. R&S&AR'H Main ;uestions 5or9 groups Methods Model systems O,TR/A"0

(orr!ors compensator hatcher and research facilit b the Ri4er ,me<l4en. Managed b

/6periments in !ull$scale model systems to e4aluate the generalit of www.smoltpro.gu.se effects across climate %ones in the

50AT (S SMOLTPRO: A(M )A"*+RO,-. R&S&AR'H Main ;uestions 5or9 groups Methods Model systems O,TR/A"0

)lv*arle#y Swedish ,ni4ersit of Agricultural Sciences research station b the Ri4er .al<l4en

/6periments in !ull$scale model systems to e4aluate the generalit of www.smoltpro.gu.se effects across climate %ones in the

50AT (S SMOLTPRO: A(M )A"*+RO,-. R&S&AR'H Main ;uestions 5or9 groups Methods Model systems O,TR/A"0

IMS The -orwegian (nstitute for -ature Research =-(-A> field station b the Ri4er (msa

/6periments in !ull$scale model systems to e4aluate the generalit of www.smoltpro.gu.se effects across climate %ones in the

50AT (S SMOLTPRO: A(M )A"*+RO,-. R&S&AR'H Main ;uestions 5or9 groups Methods Model systems O,TR/A"0

D'+ Randers The .anish "entre for 5ild salmon =."?> hatcher and research facilit b the Ri4er ?illestrup /6periments in !ull$scale model systems to e4aluate the generalit of www.smoltpro.gu.se effects across climate %ones in the

Mani ulation o! hatchery rearing

Density -eeding strategies Structure .Personality/$ sorting Regular monitoring and sam ling La# analysis o! smolt hysiology0 stress levels0 #rain si%e0

Trac*ing o! movement atterns ,ehavioural o#servations and s"im er!ormance tests

Return rates
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Structural enrichment
reduces stress and !in deterioration0 and increases shelter$see*ing #ehaviour in re$smolt Atlantic salmon -<slund et al. %&'2 "$#AS

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-eed reduction and starvation

increases migration s eed in t"o$year old Atlantic salmon smolt
er day2 Migration s eed 1*m '8 '% '& @ 3 8 % & Star4ed #ed Low feed ration 0igh feed ration

-eeding regime during "inter and s ring #e!ore release

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Reduced rearing density

strengthens intestinal rimary #arrier in one$year Atlantic salmon smolts Trans$e ithelial Resistance

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Reduced rearing density

enhances sea"ard migration in one$ year old Atlantic salmon smolts

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Reduced rearing density increases s a"ning returns a!ter one sea "inter
in one$year old Atlantic salmon smolts

s t i s n e d h g i 0 C ' . s 4 n o m l a s t i s n e d w o l
Treatment H-HD H-LD L-HD L-LD 3rand Total "ount of -Atot "ount of Pit A4erage of Length A4erage of 5eight '3'& '32% '3&3 '38& 38@@ '% 'C 783 73@ 73' 72C 772 ''88 '2C3 '2%7 ''73 '%73 1 '@ 73

Return rates

fa o s n almo
&,17 B ','3 B &,88 B ','& B &,@3 B

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Summary I
Reduced rearing density4
impro4ed performance generall results in

Reduced stress and fin damage Strengthens the intestinal primar barrier Adapti4e beha4iour =life s9ills> (ncreased smolt migration (ncreased return rates =preliminar results> Positi4e effects need to be e4aluated against increased production costs =economic model>

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Summary II
Structural enrichment4
effects in some studies 4ariable results, positi4e

Reduced stress and fin damage (ncreased sheltering beha4iour (nteracti4e effects with densit : E further studies needed An positi4e effects need to be e4aluated against increased cleaning costs and infection ris9s in the hatcher

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Summary III
-eed reduction4
4ariable results, depending on smolt siFeGage

-o or negati4e effects on smolt migration in one- ear old smolts Positi4e effects on smolt migration on larger two- ear old smo(ts Ma be effecti4e on larger smolts to stimulate migration beha4iour #urther studies needed to delimit under which conditions feed reduction andGor star4ation can be useful

www.smoltpro.gu.se

5+'
0atcher e6perimental design and sampling

5+%
Post-release e6periments

5+2
Meta anal sis of e6isting data

SMOLTPRO

5+8
Sta9e holder interactions and outreach

5+7
/conomic and ethical anal sis

Develo ment o! ne" hatchery guidelines !or sustaina#le smolt www.smoltpro.gu.se roduction

-inal thoughts
So far, our results suggest that a reduction of con4entional rearing densit is the most promising and general wa to increase the ;ualit of one- ear hatcher -produced salmon smolts Alternati4e modifications of rearing methods, e.g. structural enrichment and feed reduction ma also be useful depending on local hatcher conditions and smolt ageGsiFe. #urther studies are needed (n general, our results suggest that an increased focus on ;ualit rather than ;uantit is critical for sustainable supplementar smolt production (f increased smolt ;ualit boosts return rates, will this compensate for the increased hatcher production costs: /conomic anal ses are on their wa

There is also an ethical aspectH the goal of supplementar smolt production must be to minimiFe stress and allow natural beha4iour to be e6pressed

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?isit our homepageH httpHGGwww.smoltpro.science.gu.seG

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