Effects of late-season catch and release angling on anaerobic metabolism, acid–base status, survival, and gamete viability in wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Abstract

The effects of catch and release angling on muscle physiology, survival and gamete viability were examined in wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), just prior to spawning. Lactate in the white muscle increased to 37.4 μmol∙g−1 after angling and recovered within 4 h. Muscle pH decreased from 7.46 at rest to 6.80 following angling, but returned to resting levels within 2 h. White muscle concentrations of PCr, ATP, and glycogen were depleted by 74, 46, and 73%, respectively, following angling. ATP and PCr returned to resting levels within 2 h, but glycogen did not recover until 12 h. The absence of significant changes in blood glucose indicated that the stress response was minimal in salmon angled under these conditions (6 °C). There were also no mortalities among 20 salmon that were angled and transported to the hatchery. Multi-sea-winter (MSW) salmon (> 63 cm) required a longer period to angle to exhaustion than grilse (< 63 cm), but the physiological disturbance was less in MSW salmon. The survival of eggs from angled and nonangled salmon was 98 and 97%, respectively. Together, these results support the strategy of a late-season catch and release fishery for Atlantic salmon.

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

“…Capture by angling is one of the most physically demanding forms of exercise stress in fish (Booth et al, 1995) and the subsequent physiological response has been demonstrated to increase with the amount of time fish are on the hook (Wydoski et al, 1976;Pankhurst and Dedual, 1994;Thorstad et al, 2003), sometimes resulting in high mortality rates (Bouck and Ball, 1966). Significant increases in plasma cortisol and lactate during this study were observed within 2-3 min of the initiation of angling and the highest levels were observed after 5-6 min of angling duration.…”

“…In addition, it has been demonstrated that the immediate physiological response by rainbow trout exposed to clove oil is minimal with short exposure times and most likely reflects stress prior to anesthesia (Wagner et al, 2002). Thus, landing time and the time required to remove hooks were considered to be the most influential to any physiological changes, due to the physically exhaustive nature of both stressors (Ferguson and Tufts, 1992;Booth et al, 1995). Fish were separated into rapid and extended capture groups because it has been demonstrated that physiological changes can occur within a few minutes after the onset of a stressor, therefore, the levels of blood parameters for rapid capture fish would potentially reflect the levels of free-swimming fish (Wydoski et al, 1976;Pankhurst and Dedual, 1994).…”

“…In previous studies where the relationship between capture by angling and the subsequent physiological response was examined, fish were typically anesthetized in a tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) solution before blood sampling, and the times in anesthesia and for blood withdrawal were generally not factored into the analysis (Wydoski et al, 1976;Booth et al, 1995;Brobbel et al, 1996). The physiological stress response of fish anesthetized in MS-222 or clove oil solution has ranged from minimal to significant, largely depending on the duration of time fish are in the anesthetic, the specific anesthetic and dose, when the dose was delivered, and the species of study (Barton and Peter, 1982;Tort et al, 2002;Wagner et al, 2002).…”

“…In addition to studies focusing on the relationship between hooking injury and mortality (e.g., Muoneke and Childress, 1994), many studies indicate the importance of the physiological disturbance during the angling process as contributing to mortality (Wydoski et al, 1976;Dotson, 1982). 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).…”

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).…”