Decreased Seawater Adaptability of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Fry Following Prolonged Rearing in Freshwater

Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) fry weighing about 1 g maintained plasma Na+ concentrations at 134–140 mmol/L during seaward migration in the Otsuchi River. The plasma Na+ level increased slightly in the estuary, and reached 150–160 mmol/L in the fry caught in the bay. On direct transfer from freshwater to seawater, the plasma Na+ concentrations of the fry weighing 0.4–2.3 g increased markedly after 1 h and reached a maximum after 3–12 h. The fry of < 1.4 g attained sea water-acclimated plasma Na+ level of 156 mmol/L within 24 h after transfer, whereas fry of 1.8–2.3 g failed to adapt to seawater within 24 h. When seawater adaptability of fry of different lots was examined simultaneously in late April, 83–109 d after hatch, the smaller fry adjusted their plasma Na+ levels more easily than the larger fry: the smallest fry attained seawater level after 12 h without showing any peak. Changes in seawater adaptability of the same lots of fry were also followed until 5 mo after hatching, and the osmoregulatory ability of the fry in seawater decreased gradually with an increase in body weight or in the time spent in freshwater.Key words: chum salmon fry, seaward migration, plasma Na+ concentration, seawater adaptability, Oncorhynchus keta