Premium
Effects of Fin Removal on Survival and Growth of Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri) in a Natural Environment
Author(s) -
Nicola Stephen J.,
Cordone Almo J.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1973)102<753:eofros>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - salmo , dorsal fin , fin , fish fin , rainbow trout , fishery , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , overall survival , body weight , anatomy , zoology , medicine , endocrinology , engineering , mechanical engineering
The long‐term survival of fin‐clipped and unmarked rainbow trout was studied in Castle Lake, California. The results of this study confirmed the generally held belief among fishery workers that fin removal has a serious detrimental effect on fingerling salmonids. Moreover, the relative magnitude of this effect for each of the seven fins that could be removed was determined; viz.: (1) removal of the adipose fin may reduce survival by as much as 50%, (2) removal of a ventral fin may reduce survival by as much as 60 to 70%, (3) removal of a pectoral or dorsal fin may reduce survival by as much as 70 to 80%, and (4) removal of the anal fin may be no worse than removal of the pectoral or dorsal fins, but can have an inconsistent effect. The absence of a single fin did not reduce significantly the rate of growth of the members of a group possessing that mark.