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A New Design of Instream Incubator for Planting Out and Monitoring Atlantic Salmon Eggs
Author(s) -
Donaghy Michael J.,
Verspoor Eric
Publication year - 2000
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(2000)020<0521:andoii>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - incubator , salmo , incubation , tray , biology , egg incubation , fishery , environmental science , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , botany , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
An incubator was designed and field tested for monitoring eggs of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar planted out in streams. It is robust, reusable, and could be adapted to accommodate the eggs of other salmonids. It comprises eight individual incubation trays within a portable wire basket that inserts into a frame installed in or on the streambed. Each tray can accommodate an independent group of about 450 eggs, for an overall capacity of 3,000–4,000 eggs. Average survival rates to hatch were 84% for newly fertilized eggs and generally greater than 99% for eyed eggs. Survival was unaffected by inspection of the eggs during incubation. The ability of the device to allow for the monitoring of newly fertilized as well as eyed eggs represents an advance over previously reported instream incubators. This facilitates the quantification of variables such as egg mortality and hatch date. The device has applications in both salmonid research and enhancement projects.