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Dispersal of large farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar , from simulated escapes at fish farms in Norway and Scotland
Author(s) -
HANSEN L. P.,
YOUNGSON A. F.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
fisheries management and ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1365-2400
pISSN - 0969-997X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2400.2009.00709.x
Subject(s) - salmo , fishery , biological dispersal , aquaculture , fish <actinopterygii> , fish measurement , fish farming , geography , norwegian , biology , population , linguistics , philosophy , demography , sociology
Individually tagged farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were released from fish farms in simulated escapes in Scotland ( n = 678) and Norway ( n = 597) to compare migratory behaviour and dispersal. Large fish (510–870 mm fork length) were released to simulate the escape of aquaculture growers. Fish were released in spring and all recaptures of tagged fish were reported during summer and autumn of the year of release. Recapture rates were respectively 7.0 and 0.6% of the salmon released in Norway and Scotland, indicating a higher mortality or a lower exploitation or reporting rate for Scottish fish. Recaptures of Norwegian fish were all from Norway and mostly within 150 km of the release site; 64% were taken by anglers in fresh water. By contrast, the three salmon recaptured from the release in Scotland were reported from Norway (Hardangerfjord and Lofoten) and western Sweden (River Göta); two detached tags were found on beaches in Scotland north of the release site. These findings establish the capacity for long distance dispersal among escapees from aquaculture facilities and suggest a net easterly bias in long distance dispersal of salmon escaping from Scottish fish farms.