Dynamics of intracohort cannibalism in cultured fish

Abstract

Abstract Cannibalism is a frequent phenomenon in fish, especially in culture environments where fish are unable to escape predation via habitat segregation or migration. Not all cultured fish species start to exhibit cannibalism at the same age or size, nor is cannibalism equally intense in different species or life stages. Predator to prey size ratios vary substantially between species and life stages, chiefly because cannibalism is governed by gape size limitations and allometric growth of mouthparts. The development of sense organs, hard body parts, swimming and escape capacities in both the predator and the prey also influence prey size selectivity. The dynamics of cannibalism are influenced by these, as well as by environmental, factors that have effects on feed intake, growth depensation and facilitate or complicate the displaying of cannibalistic behaviour. Knowledge about cannibalistic behaviour and the logistics of cannibalism along with environmental enhancement are prerequisites for the mitigation of cannibalism in aquaculture. Also, within the context of strain selection, it is of importance to determine whether cannibals are natural-born killers or just lottery winners. These factors are discussed, chiefly as they apply to intracohort cannibalism. In addition, guidelines are suggested for cannibalistic risk assessment, and methods for mitigation of cannibalism are discussed.