The stress of moving out : physiological and behavioural effects of commercial transport on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts ...

• Main Author: Nomura, Miki
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2008
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0066300; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0066300

Despite the controversy over environmental sustainability, salmon aquaculture in British Columbia is economically important for many coastal communities and is reported as being the largest agricultural export product for the province. This thesis examined the welfare status of commercially produced Atlantic salmon smolts during transport from freshwater farms to the saltwater net pens using physiology and behaviour to assess transport stress. Smolts were transported first by truck from the freshwater farm to the dock, and then in the flow-through cargo holds of a live-haul vessel to the saltwater net pens. Fish and water were sampled before and after truck transport, and several times aboard the vessel. Assessment of stress was based on measurement of plasma cortisol, glucose, lactate, potassium, sodium and chloride concentrations, as well as behavioural observations made on underwater video footage. Seven transports of fish originating from two different hatcheries were sampled; one was a land-based tank ...