Improving survival and health of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) by the use of feed blocks and operational welfare indicators (OWIs) in commercial Atlantic salmon cages

Imsland, Albert K.; Reynolds, Patrick; Lorentzen, Morten; Eilertsen, Roy Arne; Micallef, Giulia; Tvenning, Raymond

doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735476

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…One reason why some farmed lumpfish do not survive the salmon production cycle in sea cages is because they fail to feed and adapt to a novel environment (Imsland et al, 2020;Imsland et al, 2019b). Failure of hatchery-reared lumpfish to adapt to the sea-cage environment could be due to phenotypic mismatch, as seen in other species (Stringwell et al, 2014), but steps can be taken to reduce maladaptation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality profiling may help select better cleaner fish for sea-lice control in salmon farming

Whittaker

Consuegra

Leániz

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) are increasingly being used as cleaner fish to control parasitic sea lice in salmon farming, but cleaning rates are very variable and not all individuals eat sea lice, which increases the risk of emaciation and has ethical and practical implications. Selecting good cleaners is a priority to make the industry more sustainable, but there is little information on what behaviours make cleaner fish effective under a commercial setting. We examined variation in lumpfish personalities according to the five factor personality model that takes into account differences in activity, anxiety (shelter use, thigmotaxis), aggression, sociality, and boldness (neophobia). We then quantified how variation in lumpfish personalities influenced interactions with naive Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), without the confounding effects of variation in sea lice loads. Variation in activity, sociality, aggression and neophobia, but not in anxiety, was repeatable, which is consistent with a heritable basis. Neophilic, non aggressive lumpfish spent more time inspecting salmon than neophobic and aggressive individuals, but salmon fled in the presence of the most active and social individuals, suggesting there may be an optimal cleaner fish personality amenable to artificial selection. The personality screening protocols developed in this study could inform a more efficient use of cleaner fish in salmon farming and reduce the number of individuals required to control sea lice

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality profiling may help select better cleaner fish for sea-lice control in salmon farming

Whittaker

Consuegra

Leániz

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…External health was scored based on health assessment criteria specifically developed for lumpfish ( Imsland et al, 2020 ). This involved scoring (from 0 to 4) body conditions, tail fins, other fins, deformities, cataract, eye ulceration and the condition factor ( K ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A score above 16 indicated "evidence of further extensive health deterioration." For a detailed scoring description, see Imsland et al (2020).…”

Section: Health Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cohabitation With Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Affects Brain Neuromodulators But Not Welfare Indicators in Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus)

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lumpfish are utilized to combat ectoparasitic epidemics in salmon farming. Research gaps on both cleaning behavior and client preferences in a natural environment, emphasizes the need to investigate the physiological impacts on lumpfish during cohabitation with piscivorous Atlantic salmon. Lumpfish (39.9 g, S.D ± 8.98) were arranged in duplicate tanks (n = 40 per treatment) and exposed to Live Atlantic salmon (245.7 g, S.D ± 25.05), salmon Olfaction or lifelike salmon Models for 6 weeks. Growth and health scores were measured every second week. In addition, the final sampling included measurements of neuromodulators, body color, and plasma cortisol. A stimulation and suppression test of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis was used for chronic stress assessment. Results showed that growth, health scores, and body color remained unaffected by treatments. Significant reductions in levels of brain dopamine and norepinephrine were observed in Live compared to Control. Plasma cortisol was low in all treatments, while the stimulation and suppression test of the HPI axis revealed no indications of chronic stress. This study presents novel findings on the impact on neuromodulators from Atlantic salmon interaction in the lumpfish brain. We argue that the downregulation of dopamine and norepinephrine indicate plastic adjustments to cohabitation with no negative effect on the species. This is in accordance with no observed deviations in welfare measurements, including growth, health scores, body color, and stress. We conclude that exposure to salmon or salmon cues did not impact the welfare of the species in our laboratory setup, and that neuromodulators are affected by heterospecific interaction.

show abstract

“…The most important knowledge gaps were thought to be in relation to the general biology, motivated by its unusual morphology and clinging habits, 63 the little information available on many aspects of its behaviour, [64][65][66] the extent and causes of mortality, 67 the preferences of the species in relation to temperature 30,68,69 and current velocity, 70 as well as its genetic structure 71,72 and specific welfare needs. 51 In terms of husbandry and logistics, participants highlighted problems surrounding the optimal timing and frequency of grading, the correct use of shelters 73 and tank enrichment, the development of a breeding programme 13 and the practical difficulties of separating lumpfish from salmon prior to cage treatment.…”

Section: Challenges (N = 40) Weightmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main opportunities lay in reusing lumpfish at the end of the salmon cycle, although this may be limited by size constraints and concerns about transmitting diseases from one salmon cycle to the next, 32,54,98 closing the breeding cycle of the species in captivity and optimising rearing conditions. Other opportunities lay in increasing survival, welfare and delousing efficacy through selective breeding, 49,72 the development of improved diets 79,81 and food delivery systems, 67,96 as well as better disease management strategies. 13 In this sense, recent advances in non-destructive tissue sampling through laparoscopy and real-time PCR assays for rapid disease screening 86 should improve disease management.…”

Section: Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing the welfare needs of farmed lumpfish: Knowledge gaps, challenges and solutions

Leániz

Rabadán

Barrento

et al. 2021

Reviews in Aquaculture

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Improving survival and health of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) by the use of feed blocks and operational welfare indicators (OWIs) in commercial Atlantic salmon cages

Cited by 23 publications

References 20 publications

Personality profiling may help select better cleaner fish for sea-lice control in salmon farming

Personality profiling may help select better cleaner fish for sea-lice control in salmon farming

Cohabitation With Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Affects Brain Neuromodulators But Not Welfare Indicators in Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus)

Addressing the welfare needs of farmed lumpfish: Knowledge gaps, challenges and solutions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About