Environmental enrichment is the incorporation of materials into hatchery tanks to simulate a more natural rearing environment. This study investigated the use of a vertically-suspended plastic conduit array as enrichment in 3.63 m circular tanks during Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) rearing. After 168 days, feed conversion ratio was significantly improved for salmon reared in tanks with enrichment compared to the barren control tanks. Final tank weights and weight gain were not significantly different, although the difference in mean gain of 182.0 kg in the enriched tanks compared to 162.9 kg in the control tanks approached significance. There were no significant differences in individual fish length, weight, or condition factor between the treatments, likely because of large variances in body size due to sexual dimorphism and small sample sizes. The suspended array did not interfere with the hydraulic self-cleaning of the circular tanks. The results of this study support the use of vertically-suspended structures to improve the hatchery rearing performance of Atlantic salmon in circular tanks.

This study examined the effects of five different colors of vertically-suspended environmental enrichment on the growth of juvenile Shasta strain rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during hatchery rearing in circular tanks. The colors used were silver (unpainted aluminum-control), safety red, semi-gloss black, hunter green, and safety blue. After 86 days, total tank weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ration were not significantly different among any of the color treatments. Individual fish weights, lengths, and condition factors were also not significantly different among the treatments. The results of this study indicate that the relatively small amount of color present on the suspended structure did not affect rainbow trout growth. Thus, the inherent silver color of the aluminum angles does not need to be changed.

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