Evaluation approaches of fish swimming performance

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Swimming speeds are the most important index for the evaluation of the fish swimming performance. The terminologies and classifications of the fish swimming performance were summarized in this paper. Taking into consideration of the widely used evaluation approaches of the fish swimming performance by different researchers, a recommended classification methodology of the fish swimming performance was proposed by the authors. And a new concept of the swimming speed, the Maximum Domed Swimming Speed (DSS), was introduced into this new classification framework together with a discussion on its calculation method and the practical significance. According to the classification system, the fish swimming speeds are classified into five categories: Optimum Swimming Speed, Maximum Sustained Swimming Speed, Critical Swimming Speed, Maximum Domed Swimming Speed, and Burst Swimming Speed. Other concepts of swimming speeds are generally merged into the above five categories, respectively. Furthermore, possible relevancies among the Maximum Sustained Swimming Speed (MSS), the Critical Swimming Speed (CSS), and the Maximum Domed Swimming Speed (DSS) were discussed. It was concluded that these three swimming speeds, in a sense, can be regarded as the equivalent indices for the evaluation of fish swimming performance.