Acoustic conditioning for recall/recapture of escaped Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout

• Published in: Aquaculture
• Main Authors: Tlusty, Michael F., Andrew, Jennifer, Baldwin, Kenneth, Bradley, Terence M.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@URI 2008
• Subjects: Acoustics; Atlantic salmon; Conditioning; Escape; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Rainbow trout; Recapture; Salmo salar; Canada; Norway
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/favs_facpubs/118; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2007.11.007

Escape of salmon from sea cages is a problem that continues to plague the aquaculture industry. Data collected during the past 15 years from Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and U.S. suggest significant impacts on natural runs of fish and economic losses to producers. The present report investigated the feasibility of using acoustic conditioning as a means of recalling/recapturing escaped fish. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were found to respond to frequencies in the range of 50 - 400 Hz equally well. Subsequently, both species were conditioned to a 250 Hz acoustic tone during feeding. Juvenile and sub-adult fish readily conditioned to the acoustic signal within four days, with the maximum number of fish responding (85% salmon, 96% trout) by day seven. To assess retention of conditioning, fish were exposed to a single tone without feed reinforcement every one, two or four weeks. Salmon and trout continued to respond for a seven month period with no significant decrease (88% salmon, 97% trout) in response. No significant differences were observed in the response of either species to tones differing in frequency by up to 200 Hz (89% salmon, 96% trout) and intensity by 20 dB (91% salmon, 96% trout). Both species were reproducibly recalled to a cage or feeding ring in a 3.7 m tank, but were reluctant to re-enter the cage. The findings indicate that salmon and trout are readily conditioned to acoustic signals and retain that conditioning for an extended period of time without reinforcement. These characteristics suggest that acoustic conditioning has potential as a means to recall escaped salmon and when coupled with recapture, can reduce interactions with wild stocks and losses to the producer. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.