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Evaluation of Exploitation as a Means of Improving Growth in a Stunted Population of Brook Trout
Author(s) -
Donald David B.,
Alger David J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1989)009<0177:eoeaam>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - fontinalis , trout , salvelinus , hectare , fishery , fishing , population , biology , biomass (ecology) , population density , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , stunted growth , ecology , demography , agriculture , medicine , sociology , malnutrition , pathology
The stunted population of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in Olive Lake, British Columbia, was exploited at an annual rate of 20% fishing mortality for 3 years in an attempt to improve growth rates. In response to this exploitation, the age‐frequency distribution shifted from old to younger fish, and the mean weight of all age‐classes increased. Maximum weight of brook trout increased from 68 to 158 g ( N = 40 and 134, respectively). Recruitment also increased; consequently, the population density and biomass remained at about 750 fish/hectare and 30 kg/ hectare. Thus, growth of brook trout increased when the density of the older cohort of fish was reduced, although the total density of the population did not change significantly.