Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Orono, Maine » National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #359301
Title: Growth comparison of Gaspe and St. John's River Strain Atlantic salmon in fresh and saltwater

Author
item Peterson, Brian
item Burr, Gary

Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2018
Publication Date: 4/3/2019
Citation: Peterson, B.C., Burr, G.S. 2019. Growth comparison of Gaspe and St. John's River Strain Atlantic salmon in fresh and saltwater. Abstract, Aquaculture America Conference in New Orleans, LA, March 7-11, 2019. 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Anecdotal evidence suggests that Gaspe strain Atlantic salmon grow better in fresh water compared to St. Johns strain Atlantic salmon. This study aimed to compare growth performance and body composition of two strains of fish grown for 16 weeks in fresh and salt water. Two-hundred and forty mixed sex fish (~260 g/fish) Gaspe, St. John's or hybrids (' Gaspe × 'St John) were stocked into 24 tanks (10 fish per treatment) in two identical systems (12 tanks per system; 0.14m3 per tank). Each system had three tanks stocked with 10 St. John's strain fish, three tanks with 10 Gaspe strain fish, three tanks stocked with the hybrid fish (10 hybrids/tank) and three tanks with 5 St. John's and 5 Gaspe strain fish. One system was filled with sea water (32 ppt) while the other system was filled with fresh water (0 ppt). Heat pumps were used to maintain temperatures (~13ºC) in each system. The salmon in each tank were fed a commercial diet. At the end of the trial, fish were group weighed and 3 fish per tank were taken for proximate analysis and fatty acid analysis. Results showed that the Gaspe grew better in fresh water compared to sea water while the St. John's strain performed equally well in sea water and fresh. Hybrids of the two strains had similar growth characteristics to the Gaspe strain but were not significantly different from either strain. When the two strains were mixed in a single tank, Gaspe performed better in fresh water compared to sea water while St. John's performed better in sea water compared to fresh water. St. Johns fish slightly out preformed Gaspe in fresh water. Proximate composition and fatty acids will be calculated.