Abstract
One of the major challenges for understanding the ecological impact of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) is predicting their dispersal patterns after an escape event. Here, we quantify the behaviour of escaped farmed salmon using a simulated-escape experiment within a Norwegian fjord system. Thirty-seven individuals were tagged with acoustic transmitters and their spatial distribution, horizontal movements and diving behaviour was monitored throughout the fjord and accompanying rivers using 29 acoustic receivers. A rapid movement away from the release site occurred. There was no movement into the rivers feeding the fjord and there was no preference for residence at the fish farms: nearly a third of the individuals had a final detection in the outer part of the fjord and no detections occurred from approximately 2 months after release. As it is unlikely that all fish died or remained undetected within the study area it is reasonable to assume that a substantial proportion of the fish moved out of the fjord system. If a recapture program is not implemented immediately after an escape event, we recommend spreading potential recapture efforts over a relatively large area.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anon (2011) Status for norske laksebestander i 2011. Rapport fra Vitenskapelig råd for lakseforvaltning nr 3:1–285
Chittenden CM, Rikardsen AH, Skilbrei O, Davidsen JG, Halttunen E, Skarðhamar J, McKinley RS (2011) An effective method for the recapture of escaped farmed salmon. Aqua Environ Interact 1:215–224
Ferguson A, Fleming I, Hindar K, Skaala Ø, McGinnity P, Cross TF, Prodöhl P (2007) Farm escapes. In: Verspoor E, Stradmeyer L, Nielsen JL (eds) The Atlantic salmon: genetics, conservation and management. Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 357–398
Fiskeridirektoratet (2012) Statistikk for akvakultur. (www.fiskeridir.no/statistikk/akvakultur)
Hansen LP (2006) Migration and survival of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) released from two Norwegian fish farms. ICES J Mar Sci 63:1211–1217
Hansen LP, Youngson AF (2010) Dispersal of large farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, from simulated escapes at fish farms in Norway and Scotland. Fish Manag Ecol 17:28–32
Hedger RD, Martin F, Hatin D, Caron F, Whoriskey FG, Dodson JJ (2008) Active migration of wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolt through a coastal embayment. Mar Ecol Prog Series 355:235–246
Heggberget TG, Økland F, Ugedal O (1993) Distribution and migratory behaviour of adult wild and farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during return migration. Aquaculture 118:73–83
Hindar K, Fleming IA, McGinnity P, Diserud O (2006) Genetic and ecological effects of salmon farming on native salmon: modeling from experimental results. ICES J Mar Sci 63:1234–1247
Jákupsstovu SHI (1988) Exploitation and migration of salmon in Faroese waters. In: Mills D, Piggins D (eds) Atlantic salmon: Planning for the future. Croom Helm, London, pp 458–482
Jensen Ø, Dempster T, Thorstad EB, Uglem I, Fredheim A (2010) Escapes of fishes from Norwegian sea-cage aquaculture: causes, consequences and prevention. Aqua Environ Interact 1:71–83
Jepsen N, Holthe E, Økland F (2006) Observations of predation on salmon and trout smolts in a river mouth. Fish Manag Ecol 13:341–343
McGinnity P, Prodöhl P, Maoiléidigh NÓ, Hynes R et al (2004) Differential lifetime success and performance of native and non-native Atlantic salmon examined under communal natural conditions. J Fish Biol 65:173–187
Meister AL (1984) The marine migration of tagged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) of USA origin. ICES CM 1984/M27.
Naylor R, Hindar K, Fleming IA, Goldburg R et al (2005) Fugitive salmon: assessing the risks of escaped fish from net-pen aquaculture. Bio Sci 55:427–437
Olsen RE, Skilbrei OT (2010) Feeding preference of recaptured Atlantic salmon Salmo salar following simulated escape from fish pens during autumn. Aquacult Environ Interact 1:167–174
R Development Core Team (2009) R: A language and environment for statistical computing, R Foundation for Statistical Computing. ISBN 3-900051-07-0, http://www.R-project.org.
Roberge C, Normandeau É, Einum S, Guderley H, Bernatchez L (2008) Genetic consequences of interbreeding between farmed and native Atlantic salmon: insights from the transcriptome. Mol Ecol 17:314–324
Skaala Ø, Wennevik V, Glover KA (2006) Evidence of temporal genetic change in wild Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., populations affected by farm escapees. ICES J Mar Sci 63:1224–1233
Skilbrei OT (2010a) Reduced migratory performance of simulated escaped Atlantic salmon post-smolts during autumn. Aqua Environ Interact 1:117–125
Skilbrei OT (2010b) Adult recaptures of farmed Atlantic salmon postsmolts allowed to escape during summer. Aqua Environ Interact 1:147–153
Skilbrei OT, Holst JC, Asplin L, Holm M (2009) Vertical movements of “escaped” farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) – a simulation study in a western Norwegian fjord. ICES J Mar Sci 66:278–288
Skilbrei OT, Jørgensen T (2010) Recapture of cultured salmon following a large-scale escape experiment. Aqua Environ Interact 1:107–115
Skilbrei OT, Holst JC, Asplin L, Mortensen S (2010) Horizontal movements of simulated escaped farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in a western Norwegian fjord. ICES J Mar Sci 6:1206–1215
Uglem I, Bjørn P-A, Dale T, Kerwath S, Økland F, Nilsen R, Aas K, Fleming I, McKinley RS (2008) Movements and spatiotemporal distribution of escaped farmed and local wild Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) in a Norwegian fjord. Aqua Res 39:158–170
Whoriskey FG, Brooking P, Doucette G, Thinker S, Carr JW (2006) Movements and survival of sonically tagged farmed Atlantic salmon released in Cobscook Bay ME USA. ICES J Mar Sci 63:1218–1223
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the Fisheries Directorate and the Directorate for Nature Management and was conducted as collaboration between the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). We would especially like to thank Aqua Gen Marine for very helpful collaboration. They supplied farmed Atlantic salmon, premises for tagging the fish, and deployed out receivers on some of their farms in the fjord. We would also like to thank Marine Harvest Norway AS and Lerøy Hydrotech AS for placing out receivers at some of their farms. Finally, we would like to thank Jo Arve Alfredsen, NTNU, for assistance under field work spring 2011.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Solem, Ø., Hedger, R.D., Urke, H.A. et al. Movements and dispersal of farmed Atlantic salmon following a simulated-escape event. Environ Biol Fish 96, 927–939 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-012-0088-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-012-0088-0