Sexual Maturation in Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): A Review

The sexual maturation of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar is a multifactorial process in which fish acquire somatic characteristics to reproduce. In salmon farming has been described a high variability in the trait age at maturation derived from wild reproductive strategies. Early maturation is a phenotype that generates serious economic repercussions on both, sea cage and on land-based aquaculture systems. In view of the challenges of this problem for the global salmon farming industry, it is essential to thoroughly understand the influencing factors of early and late maturation to find efficient alternatives for managing the phenomenon. This review briefly describes sexual maturation in S. salar, its variability in cultures, and the factors influencing the maturation age trait at the physiological, genetic and environmental levels. The control of early maturity through changes to the natural photoperiod and through the use of genetic markers are discussed.

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Effects of rearing density on sexual maturation and growth in sea-cage reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Aquaculture Research ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2109.1992.tb00778.x ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 353-365

Author(s):

H. A. McLAY ◽

A. F. YOUNGSON ◽

R. S. WRIGHT ◽

R. JOHNSTONE

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Salmon ◽

Salmo Salar ◽

Sexual Maturation ◽

Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar ◽

Rearing Density ◽

Sea Cage

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Monitoring the incidence of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in rivers and fisheries of the United Kingdom and Ireland: current progress and recommendations for future programmes

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.04.018 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 63 (7) ◽

pp. 1201-1210 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Alan M. Walker ◽

Malcolm C.M. Beveridge ◽

Walter Crozier ◽

Niall Ó Maoiléidigh ◽

Nigel Milner

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Salmon ◽

Salmo Salar ◽

Best Practice ◽

British Isles ◽

Fish Farms ◽

Farmed Salmon ◽

Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Farmed Atlantic Salmon ◽

Farming Industry

Abstract An inevitable consequence of the development of the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farming industry in coastal waters of the British Isles has been the loss of farmed salmon to the wild, their occurrence in inshore waters and rivers, and their appearance in coastal and freshwater fisheries. Monitoring programmes have been developed throughout the British Isles, variously using scientific sampling, catch records from coastal or freshwater fisheries or both, and scientific sampling of catches from in-river traps. We compare the results of these monitoring programmes with regional production and the numbers of escapees reported from marine fish farms. We also consider the effectiveness of the programmes for assessing the prevalence of farmed salmon that escape from marine cages. Finally, we make recommendations for improvements to these programmes and for the development of best practice, including the scientific sampling of in-river spawning stocks through fishery-independent sources, identification of fish origin based on at least two methods, assessment of the degree of incorrect classification, and the timely and accurate reporting of all escapes.

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