Physiology and Survival of Wild Atlantic Salmon following Angling in Warm Summer Waters

Abstract

Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, returning to freshwater to spawn, were angled and then terminally sampled to test the hypothesis that angling during warmer summer months (water temperatures of 20 ± 2°C) increases the magnitude of physiological disturbances in the white muscle. Angling immediately reduced white muscle ATP and phosphocreatine stores, but these high-energy phosphates were replenished within 2-4 h. Intramuscular glycogen stores were nearly depleted after angling, but unlike the response by salmon angled in the fall at 6°C, there was no glycogen resynthesis during the 4-h recovery period. Marked increases in white muscle lactate and the postexercise metabolic proton load (AH^) accompanied glycogen depletion. The time course of lactate elimination and AH^ correction, however, was much slower than previously observed in fall-angled salmon. Finally, considerable delayed postangling mortality (40%) was observed in a subgroup of Atlantic salmon that were angled at 22°C. We conclude that angling in warm summer water impairs restorative processes and increases the susceptibility of Atlantic salmon to delayed postangling mortality. We suggest that anglers can mitigate the magnitude of angling-induced physiological disturbances in Atlantic salmon during midsummer by minimizing playing time and postangling air exposure.

Physiological response of wild rainbow trout to angling: impact of angling duration, fish size, body condition, and temperature

“…Alagnak River rainbow trout with greater landing and handling times presumably experienced a greater peak plasma cortisol and lactate response and longer recovery period than fish captured more quickly. Studies have found mortality from exhaustive exercise to manifest in hours to several days after the exercise event (Black, 1958;Dotson, 1982;Brobbel et al, 1996;Wilkie et al, 1996). Although minimal immediate mortality was observed in this study, it is difficult to predict the recovery times or delayed mortality rates of captured fish because they were not held after capture for observation or repeat sampling.…”

“…In general, studies documenting the physiological disturbance of wild fish from hooking stress have found minimal mortality (Wydoski et al, 1976;Gustaveson et al, 1991;Tufts et al, 1991;Pankhurst and Dedual, 1994;Booth et al, 1995;Brobbel et al, 1996). However, mortality may increase when fish are angled at warmer water temperatures (Dotson, 1982;Titus and Vanicek, 1988;Wilkie et al, 1996). There are also sublethal effects that may be induced by physiological changes provoked by a stress event including changes in reproductive behavior or function (Campbell et al, 1992;Kieffer et al, 1995;, disease resistance (Pickering and Pottinger, 1989), growth suppression or decrease in appetite (Gregory and Wood, 1999), post-release predation (Cooke and Philipp, 2004), and other behavioral effects such as changes in social hierarchies and migratory behavior (Lewynsky and Bjornn, 1987;Mäkinen et al, 2000).…”

Changes in blood cortisol, glucose and lactate in carp retained in anglers' keepnets

“…Hooking and playing fish is consistently reported to elicit increases in one or more of blood catecholamines, cortisol, glucose, and metabolic acidosis/blood lactate in species as diverse as rainbow trout (Pankhurst & Dedual, 1994;Wydoski et al, 1976), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.; Booth et al, 1995 blue mao mao (Scorpis violaceus Hutton; Lowe & Wells, 1996) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides Lacepède; Gustaveson et al, 1991). Recovery times, where determined, vary between 4 h to 72 h depending on the parameters measured and factors such as the nutritional status of the fish and water temperature (Booth et al, 1995Pankhurst & Dedual, 1994;Wilkie et al, 1996;Wydoski et al, 1976).…”

“…Physical and physiological factors of concern include the extent of exertion during playing and landing, the physical effect of hooking and handling the fish, exposure of fish within keepnets to harmful deterioration in water quality, and the possible initiation of a physiological stress response consequent to the combined effects of capture, handling, restraint and confinement. Some information is available regarding the welfare of individual fish and the effects of angling pressure on populations of fish (Brana et al, 1992;Brobbel et al, 1996) and there are limited data available concerning mortality arising from hook damage (Bugley & Shepherd, 1991;Dedual, 1996;Dextrase & Ball, 1991;Muoneke & Childress, 1994;Malchoff & Heins, 1997) and the recovery of rod-caught fish post-capture (Ferguson & Tufts, 1992;Pankhurst & Dedual, 1994;Wilkie et al, 1996). However, the species and conditions employed in these studies are not strictly relevant to United Kingdom non-salmonid fisheries, in which catch-and-return angling is prevalent.…”

Réponses Physiologiques De Sept Espèces De Poissons Lacustres À Un Stress De Capture (Filet Maillant Et Épuisette).

“…Ainsi, les effets inhérents à une capture par pêche à la ligne ou à la cuiller (e.g., FERGUSON et TUFTS, 1992 ;YOUNGSON et WEBB, 1993 ;PANKHURST et DEDUAL, 1994 ;YOUNG et al, 1994 ;KIEFFER et al, 1995 ;BROBBEL et al, 1996 ;DEDUAL, 1996 ;LOWE et WELLS, 1996 ;WILKIE et al, 1996 ;POTTINGER, 1998), par plongeur sous-marin (e.g., BOLLARD et al, 1993), nasse (e.g., HOPKINS et CECH, 1992), senne (e.g., LEATHERLAND et al, 1989), chalut (e.g., TU RUN EN et ai., 1994OLLA et al, 1997), tramail (e.g., EGGINTON, 1994CHOPIN et al, 1996) ou pêche électrique (e.g., MESA et SCHRECK, 1989 ;MAULE et MESA, 1994 ;MITTON et MCDONALD, 1994 ;SNYDER, 1995 ;BARTON et GROSH, 1996 ;BARTON et DWYER, 1997 ;MUTH et RUPPERT, 1997) ont-ils été appréciés et quantifiés chez de nombreuses espèces pisciaires par des mesures d'indicateurs classiques de l'état de stress (i.e., catecholamines, Cortisol, glucose, lactate ;WEDEMEYER et al, 1990). L'utilisation de filets maillants, engins de pêche passifs, a été préconisée par l' EIFAC (1975) et citée par BARBIER (1985) pour certaines investigations dans les lacs, réservoirs et milieux potamiques.…”