Fatty acid composition of sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and herring (Clupea harengus) in the Baltic Sea as potential prey for salmon (Salmo salar)

Abstract Mikkonen, J., Keinänen, M., Casini, M., Pönni, J., and Vuorinen, P. J. 2011. Relationships between fish stock changes in the Baltic Sea and the M74 syndrome, a reproductive disorder of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 2134–2144. The M74 syndrome of Baltic salmon (Salmo salar), which appears as increased yolk-sac fry mortality (YSFM), impairs the reproduction of salmon stocks. Changes in the prey stocks of Baltic salmon in its two feeding areas, the southern Baltic Proper (BPr), where sprat (Sprattus sprattus) was the main prey species during the high incidence of M74, and the Bothnian Sea, where herring (Clupea harengus) is the dominant species, were analysed in relation to salmon growth and size and in relation to the incidence of M74. The high condition factor (CF > 1.05) of prespawning salmon predicted high YSFM. From the various stock factors of sprat and herring in the southern BPr, the biomass of sprat had the strongest positive relationships with the CF of prespawning salmon, and the total prey biomass with YSFM. It is concluded that the ample but unbalanced food resources for salmon in the BPr, primarily sprat, induce M74. By reducing the fishing pressure on cod (Gadus morhua) and by more effectively managing the sprat fishery in years when the cod stock is weak, the incidence of the M74 syndrome could be reduced and even prevented.

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Diel spatial distribution and feeding activity of herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in the Baltic Sea

Aquatic Living Resources ◽

10.1016/s0990-7440(03)00007-x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 283-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

M Cardinale

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Baltic Sea ◽

Feeding Activity ◽

Clupea Harengus ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Sprattus Sprattus ◽

The Baltic

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Synoptic survey of pathological symptoms in herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in the Baltic Sea

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1006/jmsc.1999.0467 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 169-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

W Grygiel

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Clupea Harengus ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Sprattus Sprattus ◽

The Baltic

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Forage fish quality: seasonal lipid dynamics of herring (Clupea harengus L.) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus L.) in the Baltic Sea

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fst106 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 71 (1) ◽

pp. 56-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Maria C. Røjbek ◽

Jonna Tomkiewicz ◽

Charlotte Jacobsen ◽

Josianne G. Støttrup

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Baltic Sea ◽

Lipid Content ◽

Clupea Harengus ◽

Forage Fish ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Sprattus Sprattus ◽

Fish Size ◽

Lipid Dynamics ◽

The Baltic

Abstract Røjbek, M. C., Tomkiewicz, J., Jacobsen, C., and Støttrup, J. G. Forage fish quality: seasonal lipid dynamics of herring (Clupea harengus L.) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus L.) in the Baltic Sea. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 71: . This study investigates lipid content and fatty acid composition of two important forage fish, sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and herring (Clupea harengus) in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. Seasonal variation in lipids was studied during three periods following the annual reproductive cycle considering potential differences relating to fish size, sex, and reproductive status. The isopod Saduria entomon, being at times an important prey for predatory fish, was included for comparison. In both sprat and herring, lipid content and absolute contents of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) varied seasonally with high levels towards the end of the annual zooplankton production cycle, succeeded by a decline. Lipid content and fatty acid composition differed significantly between sprat and herring. Sprat lipid content was higher than herring, increasing with fish size and characterized by large proportions of monounsaturated fatty acids. Herring lipid content was related to the reproductive cycle and proportions of PUFAs were high compared with sprat. Levels of essential PUFAs were high in S. entomon compared with clupeids rendering it a valuable alternative prey species in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. The lipid dynamics of forage fish and benthos, combined with changes in availability and abundance, will affect growth and reproduction of their predators.

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