State Hatcheries Research Articles

Estimation of Cumulative Inbreeding Rate in Indian Major Carps of Maharashtra State Hatcheries

The hatcheries of Maharashtra state, India breed mainly the species of catla, rohu and mrigal, and are the main suppliers of fish seed in the region. These hatcheries function as isolated and genetically closed units raising their own broodstock within the hatcheries, which leads to the accumulation of inbreeding at a faster rate. In the present study effective population size and cumulative inbreeding rates were estimated. The cumulative inbreeding rates ranged from 0.71-19.09%, 0.05-5.23% and 0.11- 4.24% for catla, mrigal and rohu, respectively.

Sustainable Aquaculture in the Baltic Sea Region of Russia: Ecotoxicological Issues of Restocking Wild Salmon and Whitefish Populations

It is widely recognized that aquaculture plays an important role in rural development, contributing significantly to food availability, household food security, and income generation in particular. In developing sustainable aquaculture in the Baltic Sea region of Russia, it is essential to strike a balance between the need for aquaculture development and the need for natural resource conservation, especially in the case of Atlantic Salmon and Whitefish—the most valuable object of fishery, which almost lost their native spawning areas due to negative anthropogenic impacts. Without sufficient information about the accumulation of dangerous pollutants in fish tissues it is hard to develop a sustainable strategy for restocking populations of wild Salmonids and Whitefish in their natural habitats. In this paper, the accumulation of heavy metals in the tissues of wild Salmonids and Whitefish caught for artificial reproduction and their fry from the state hatcheries of northwest Russia was studied with the use of voltammetry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and capillary electrophoresis. Analysis of the obtained data showed that significant bioaccumulation of heavy metals happens during growth and feeding after Salmon fry are released into the wild. This study demonstrates the necessity of improving state hatcheries with automatic control systems for ecological parameters.

Application of Otolith Chemistry to Investigate the Origin and State‐Straying of Steelhead in Lake Erie Tributaries

AbstractIn Lake Erie, the fishery for steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss is overwhelmingly dominated by stocking from state agencies in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Managers that stock steelhead may become concerned if a sizeable portion of the fish they stock do not return to the waters in which they were released and instead stray to other states (“state‐straying”). During fall 2009, spring 2010, and spring and fall 2015, we evaluated the origin and state‐straying of adult steelhead in five annually stocked tributaries of Lake Erie. We also investigated spatial differences in the origin and state‐straying of adult steelhead at different stream locations in two tributaries during 2015. Otolith chemistry signatures were first used to discriminate among yearling steelhead from each of the state hatcheries that stock Lake Erie and wild juveniles from Cattaraugus Creek, New York, and the Grand River, Ontario, resulting in a mean jackknifed classification accuracy of 88% (range = 72–100%). Otolith chemistry analysis was then performed on unknown‐origin adult steelhead collected in Lake Erie tributaries during the fall and spring spawning runs, and natal sources were identified by using source‐specific otolith chemical signatures. State‐strays averaged 46% (range = 13–88%) of the adult fish collected, and high percentages of strays were identified in Chautauqua Creek, New York (72%), and Cattaraugus Creek (88%). Steelhead collections in these New York tributaries during a second year revealed that the percentage of strays present was consistently high, and large proportions of strays were identified in both upstream and downstream locations. These results suggest that state‐straying is widespread in Lake Erie tributaries and that strays make up a large proportion of New York's Lake Erie tributary fishery. Strategies to reduce straying may include practicing upstream releases and reducing the number of hatchery fish that are released in some states.

Dispatches

Dispatches

Effect of Juvenile Length on Chinook Salmon Survivals at Four Hatcheries in Washington State

AbstractIn 3 years at four Washington State hatcheries, a total of 10 groups of juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha were length‐sorted and coded‐wire‐tagged before release via the AutoFish System (Northwest Marine Technology, Shaw Island, Washington). After tagging, the length‐groups were combined at each hatchery and reared through spring release. The release groups comprised (1) lower Columbia River yearling spring Chinook salmon (four releases), (2) lower Columbia River fall Chinook salmon subyearlings (three releases), (3) mid‐Columbia River fall Chinook salmon subyearlings (two releases), and (4) Puget Sound summer Chinook salmon subyearlings (one release). In three releases, large juveniles at tagging produced significantly more jack returns (recovered at the hatchery or on spawning grounds in the year of release or the following year) than did small juveniles, while in one release mid‐sized and small juveniles each produced significantly more jack returns. In 7 of 10 releases, larger juveniles produced significantly more adult returns than smaller fish; there was no significant difference in 3 releases. If the smaller fish can be partitioned out and growth‐accelerated as juveniles, and if they subsequently survive to adulthood at the same rate as their larger cohorts, there is potential to increase adult survival by about 33% at little additional cost.Received May 18, 2010; accepted September 22, 2010

The Effect of Juvenile Length in Autumn on 2‐Year‐Old Male and Adult Coho Salmon Survival Rates at Three Washington Hatcheries

AbstractDuring 3 years at three Washington State hatcheries, a total of six populations of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch were length sorted and coded‐wire‐tagged in autumn using the AutoFish Tagging Trailer (Northwest Marine Technology, Shaw Island, Washington). After tagging, the length‐groups were combined at each respective hatchery and reared through spring release. Subsequent recoveries of tagged fish from two hatcheries indicated that juvenile fish with longer fork lengths (FLs) in autumn had a significantly higher incidence of mature 2‐year‐old males (jacks) than smaller juveniles, indicating that the physiological decision to become jacks was probably made by autumn; the third hatchery produced few jacks. Large autumn juveniles had significantly greater 3‐year‐old adult survival than small autumn juveniles at one hatchery (one release) and significantly lower survival at a second hatchery (two releases); at a third hatchery (three releases), the two length‐groups did not differ in adult survival. These variable results may reflect regional size optima. The proportion of adult males returning to the hatchery was generally not influenced by FL of autumn juveniles.

Visitor Policies and Practices at Public Trout and Salmon Hatcheries in North America

A questionnaire concerning human visitation at public fish hatcheries in the United States and Canada was distributed in 2001 and 2002. Responses were received from 149 public trout and salmon fish hatcheries in 32 states and 2 provinces. Annual visitation reported ranged from 0 to 750,000 with mean visitation in the United States at 35,000 people per year. Over 70% of the state hatcheries indicated visitation at less than 10,000 per year. Hatchery visitation was significantly and positively correlated with fishing license sales and total population from each state or province. Almost 50% of the hatcheries at least partially restricted visitor access for a wide variety of reasons. Of the hatcheries that did not restrict visitation at all, 37% cited educational reasons. Visitation practices and policies varied greatly, except in some of the states with mandated uniform visitation policies.

Use of Size for Early Detection of Juvenile Hatchery Steelhead Destined to Be Precocious Males

AbstractAt two Washington State hatcheries in August 1999–2002, juvenile steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss were size‐graded and the largest fish (4.8–9.2% of the population) were coded‐wire‐tagged and mixed with small fish to determine whether the large fish were those that became precocious males. The results showed that the large fish in August at Merwin Hatchery tended to become precocious, although the mean lengths of the precocious and nonprecocious fish were similar at their time of release in April. At Abernathy Fish Technology Center (FTC), the large fish in August did not disproportionately become precocious, and the nonprecocious fish were significantly larger than the precocious fish at release. We suggest that precocious fish at Abernathy FTC may have committed to precocity before August whereas fish at Merwin Hatchery committed to precocity in August. Because only 0.82% of the large fish became precocious, removing the 5–10% largest fish in August at the Merwin Hatchery would be marginally successful in reducing the number of precocious males.

Molecular epidemiology of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus reveals complex virus traffic and evolution within southern Idaho aquaculture

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a rhabdovirus which infects salmon and trout and may cause disease with up to 90% mortality. In the Hagerman Valley of Idaho, IHNV is endemic or epidemic among numerous fish farms and resource mitigation hatcheries. A previous study characterizing the genetic diversity among 84 IHNV isolates at 4 virus-endemic rainbow trout farms indicated that multiple lineages of relatively high diversity co-circulated at these facilities (Troyer et al. 2000 J Gen Virol. 81:2823-2832). We tested the hypothesis that high IHNV genetic diversity and co-circulating lineages are present in aquaculture facilities throughout this region. In this study, 73 virus isolates from 14 rainbow trout farms and 3 state hatcheries in the Hagerman Valley, isolated between 1978 and 1999, were genetically characterized by sequence analysis of a 303 nucleotide region of the glycoprotein gene. Phylogenetic and epidemiological analyses showed that multiple IHNV lineages co-circulate in a complex pattern throughout private trout farms and state hatcheries in the valley. IHNV maintained within the valley appears to have evolved significantly over the 22 yr study period.

The Culture of Live Food for Sturgeon Juveniles, a Mini Review of the Russian Literature

A brief survey of the Russian literature of the production of live preys for feeding young sturgeons is presented. These preys are plankton organisms (Moina, Daphnia, Artemia), chironomids and oligochaets cultured in large scales mostly in state hatcheries to produce sturgeon juveniles for stocking. Thus those culture systems operate only for a short period of time. In general, an innoculum of broodstock material is introduced into the tank or the pond in which the preys are cultivated. Various feeds and fertilisers are distributed. Daily production is 10 g/m2 for chironomids and 55 g/m2 for oligochaets. For daphnia, under optimum condition of temperature and water quality the production is 20 to 35 g/m3 for the whole season. Such productions are high but the systems operate only during few months corresponding to the short rearing period of sturgeon, at least in the case of stocking. In indoor condition the plankton is distributed to the sturgeons in the rearing tank. One way is to keep constant the plankton concentration (5 mg plankton wet weight per 1 m3 of water). Associations of preys are also given; for instance zooplankton and oligochaets distributed in % of the fish biomass: 20% the first 20 days and 15% from days 30 to 40.

A Survey to Detect Largemouth Bass Virus among Fish from Hatcheries in the Southeastern USA

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) is an iridovirus widely distributed in southeastern U.S. populations of wild largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. However, this virus has not been previously reported from fish hatcheries. During 1999, 15 state hatcheries in 10 states in the southeastern USA were surveyed for LMBV. The virus was isolated from largemouth bass broodfish at five hatcheries, but juvenile largemouth bass were infected in only one of these facilities. There were no indications of the disease caused by LMBV in either adults or juveniles at the time samples were collected. The virus was not isolated in concurrent samples of forage fish from seven of the hatcheries, including three where LMBV was found. Although transmission of LMBV from infected populations to their offspring in hatcheries does not always occur, this virus could be spread by transport of infected broodfish or by stocking infected juvenile largemouth bass.

Multivariate regression relationships between ocean conditions and early marine survival of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Washington State hatcheries have released coded wire tagged coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) since the early 1970s and have recorded data on the number and ages of adult returns. From these data, we isolated marine survival from release to age 2 using a multinomial model incorporating the multivariate structure of the age-at-return data. Only hatcheries on or near the coast were used in the analysis in order to isolate marine effects. Using models to explore linear and curvilinear relationships, early marine survival was regressed against environmental covariates of sea surface temperature (SST), coastal upwelling, and the date of spring transitions. With hatcheries serving as replicates, curvilinear relationships were found between survival and both June SST and the date of spring transition. Maximum survival occurred for a June SST of 13.45°C and for a spring transition date around April 2. The regression results support the idea of optimal environmental conditions for coho salmon survival and may help fisheries managers better understand the dynamics of early marine survival of salmonids.

Influence of Fish Size, Origin, and Stress on Ascorbate Concentration in Vital Tissues of Hatchery Rainbow Trout

Abstract One-year-old rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss of probable steelhead origin) were analyzed for total ascorbate and dehydroascorbate concentrations before stocking and after transportation stress. Fish were reared on practical diets containing 0–60 mg total ascorbate per kilogram in state hatcheries in Ohio and New York. We concentrated on the influence of origin, fish size, and stress of short duration on ascorbate status in vital tissues. Liver ascorbate concentrations varied significantly between hatcheries – 78.9 ± 15.6 μg/g at Altmar, New York, and 123.6 ± 32.7 μg/g at London, Ohio – and were highly correlated with fish size (r = –0.572,N= 57). In fish subjected to hauling stress, liver and kidney ascorbate increased, whereas the dehydroascorbate decreased significantly if the fish size variable was included in the analysis. The livers, kidneys, and intestines of rainbow trout reared under practical hatchery conditions showed moderate levels of ascorbate compared with organs of fish experime...

Status of Fish Populations in Georgia Ponds 1-4 Years after Stocking

Abstract Two hundred and twenty-five randomly selected Georgia ponds stocked with bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from state hatcheries in 1975-1976 were surveyed 1 year after stocking largemouth bass to determine the state of balance of their populations and the key factors associated with unbalanced ponds. The same ponds were examined again 4 years later. The percentage of balanced ponds 1 year after stocking, from analyses of seine catches in 205 of the ponds, was 31%; 4 years after stocking it was 37%. These two percentages were not significantly different. Poor physical features and improper fertilization practices were significant factors in unbalanced ponds. Time of stocking was significant for ponds in temporary balance. Recommended improvements in the state's pond-stocking program included stocking at the unfertilized rate, performing pre-stocking evaluations, improving the quality of information recorded on fish ap...

Mortalities in Trout Caused by Gear Type and Angler-Induced Stress

Mortalities of hooked and released trout were measured at four Montana state hatcheries in 1978. At Yellowstone River Trout Hatchery, cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) caught by single-barbless, single-barbed, and barbed treble hooks and landed rapidly showed no significant mortalities. At Washoe Park Trout Hatchery, Big Springs Trout Hatchery, and Bluewater Springs Trout Hatchery, rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) caught and returned to water of five different temperatures (47-61 F) showed mortalities that increased from 0 to 8.6% with increasing water temperatures. All fish in temperature-related tests were played to exhaustion before release.

Cage Rearing of Steelhead Rainbow Trout in a Freshwater Impoundment

Abstract From fall through early spring of 1973-74 and 1974-75, floating cages were used experimentally to rear fingerling steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) to yearlings in a small freshwater impoundment on the northern coast of California. Respective totals of 7,102 and 29,475 yearlings were produced in the two seasons. The cage-reared steelheads appeared to survive and grow at least as well as those raised in State hatcheries. We describe the facilities used and give information on incidence of fin wear, effect of cage-rearing density, growth and feed conversion efficiency, and facility and production costs.

Effects of Five Diets on the Growth and Mortality of Fry to Fingerling Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

The artificial propagation of channel catfish has been done continuously by Kansas fishery workers since the early 1920's. Mr. John Murphree, now at the Durant Oklahoma Hatchery, contributed much to artificial propagation, feeding and rearing of channel catfish during his tenure with the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission. Mr. Seth L. Way, who succeeded Mr. Murphree as Superintendent of Fisheries for the State of Kansas, also contributed much to artificial propagation, hatching, feeding and rearing of channel catfish. Mr. Way invented and put into use a channel catfish incubator which is now being used by state and private hatcheries. Mr. Way's feeding and rearing techniques also have been adopted by several state and private hatcheries. This paper is a preliminary report of experiments with certain diets and concomitant growth and mortality data on channel catfish from fry to fingerling stage. It is hoped that the data may prove of value to fishery workers of other state or private hatcheries artificially producing channel catfish.

Some State Problems Associated with the Commercial Trout Industry

Abstract The growing commercial trout industry is making a valuable contribution to fishing and fish management in Western United States. In addition to trout reared for sale as food and to provide pay-fishing, the industry is a source of trout eggs and fish not infrequently purchased to supplement production of state hatcheries. Trout are also sold for stocking of approved private and public waters. It is necessary that commercial hatcheries be licensed and state control exercised over distribution of fish from them. This prevents indiscriminate and unplanned planting of public waters and introduction, accidental or otherwise, of undesirable species of fish. Such control also aids in curtailing the spread of fish diseases. Proper regulation and inspection of commercial hatcheries can both benefit the industry and protect state waters.

Lignasan for Bacterial Gill Disease

ment for bacterial gill disease (Fish 1947) was developed at the Leavenworth (Washington) Station of the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1942 and was quite successful. Since then, Roccal has been used extensively; but because of variability in composition, its efficacy is not consistent (Rucker et al. 1949). The objection to the variability of Roccal was overcome by using another compound, pyridylmercuric acetate, which was suggested by Van Horn and Katz (1946) as having some therapeutic therapy. In 19.50 the fis'h toxicities of several of these compounds were determined for chinook salmon fingerlings (Oncorhynchus tshaw_ytscha) at the Entiat (Washington) Station of the Fish and Wildlife Service; and in 1953 the bactericidal activity was determined at the State Fisheries Hatchery, Issaquah, Washington, according to the methods described by Rucker (1948). The fish.were 2-inch, 3month-old chinook salmon fingerlings in an early stage of bacterial gill disease. The water temperature was 560 F. Here Lignasan at a concentration of 1:500,000 controlled bacterial gill disease experimentally. Because of the finding in this work, Lignasan was used, although to a limited extent, in a number of other State hatcheries in 1954. Lignasan was found to value. Pyridylmercuric acetate was tested be nontoxic, at the recommended concertexperimentally at the Leavenworth Station and was found to be very effective for bacterial gill disease. This compound had highly differential toxicities for bacteria and fish but was quite expensive (Rucker 1948, Burrows and Palmer 1949, Snieszko 1949). Another objection to pyridylmercuric acetate was its toxicity to rainbow trout--not to other species of trout or to salmon--at the concentration necessary to control the bacteria (Seaman 1950, Rodgers et al. 1951, Bryant 1951, Foster and Olson 1951).

A Study of the Food Cost of Trout in New York State Hatcheries

A Study of the Food Cost of Trout in New York State Hatcheries