Stocking Density and its Influence on Growth of Spotted Wolffish, Anarhichas minor, in Shallow Raceways

Abstract

Abstract We compared growth properties of spotted wolffish with initial mean weight (± SE) 3.65 (± 0.15) kg reared in shallow raceways at three different densities (50, 70, and 90 kg/m2, corresponding to approx. 170, 240, and 310 kg/m3) in a 447‐day‐long growth trial at ambient temperature (mean (± SD), 4.2 C ± 1.9). Growth in all three groups was comparable, but there was a trend toward higher growth at the highest density. Final mean weights (kg ± SE) were 4.90 (± 0.15), 4.80 (± 0.16), and 5.05 (± 0.11), at the 50, 70, and 90 kg/m2 density, respectively. Initially, growth rates were higher at the 90 kg/m2 density group compared to the two other densities, but overall growth rates were similar in all three groups. Feed conversion efficiency differed and was higher at the two highest densities compared to lowest density. The acid–base balance was influenced by the density treatment as there was a general trend toward higher partial pressure of CO2 and HCO in the 90 kg/m2 group. Calculated productivity increased almost linearly with increasing stocking density and was found to be 24, 42, and 66 g/m2/day at 50, 70, and 90 kg/m2, respectively. The results show that the optimum density conditions for farming large spotted wolffish, both with respect to growth rate, feed conversion, and productivity are at densities equal to or higher than 90 kg/m2.