Notes on the behaviour of lumpfish in sea pens with and without Atlantic salmon present

Imsland, Albert K.; Reynolds, Patrick; Eliassen, Gerhard; Hangstad, Thor Arne; Nytrø, Ane V.; Foss, Atle; Vikingstad, Erik; Elvegård, Tor Anders

doi:10.1007/s10164-014-0397-1

Cited by 75 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This has prompted interest in alternative cleaner fish that may remain active during winter and spring, and the lumpfish or lumpsucker is the species that offers the greatest potential (Imsland et al . ,b,c, ,b, ) and the species that is now most commonly used (Fig. ).…”

Section: Introduction: Lumpfish a ‘Green’ Alternative For Sea‐lice Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of lumpfish for sea‐lice control in salmon farming: challenges and opportunities

Powell

Treasurer²,

Pooley

et al. 2017

Reviews in Aquaculture

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216

248

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Efficient sea-lice control remains one of the most important challenges for the salmon farming industry. The use of wrasse (Labridae) as cleaner fish offers an alternative to medicines for sea-lice control, but wrasse tend to become inactive in winter. Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) continue to feed on sea-lice at low temperatures, and commercial production has escalated from thousands of fish in 2010 to well over 30 million juveniles deployed in 2016. However, production still relies on the capture of wild broodstock, which may not be sustainable. To meet global industry needs, lumpfish production needs to increase to reach c. 50 million fish annually and this can only come from aquaculture. We review current production methods and the use of lumpfish in sea cages and identify some of the main challenges and bottlenecks facing lumpfish intensification. Our gap analysis indicates that the areas in most need of research include better control of maturation for year-round production; formulation of appropriate diets; artificial selection of elite lines with desirable traits; and development of vaccines for certified, disease-free juvenile production. The welfare of farmed lumpfish also needs to be better quantified, and more information is needed on optimal densities and tank design. Finally, the risk of farmed lumpfish escaping from net pens needs to be critically assessed, and we argue that it might be beneficial to recover cleaner fish from salmon cages after the production cycle, perhaps using them as broodstock, for export to the Asian food markets or for the production of animal feeds.

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Section: Introduction: Lumpfish a ‘Green’ Alternative For Sea‐lice Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of lumpfish for sea‐lice control in salmon farming: challenges and opportunities

Powell

Treasurer²,

Pooley

et al. 2017

Reviews in Aquaculture

Self Cite

216

248

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There were variations in K throughout the study period with fish fed feed blocks having higher K values at the termination of the trial. Lumpfish exhibit a high degree of opportunistic feeding behaviour as seen in previous studies (Imsland, Reynolds, Eliassen, Hangstad, Foss, et al., ; Imsland et al., ,b, ,b) and individual fish exhibit different food selection choices within populations. These selection differences can greatly affect body condition due to differences in the nutritional quality of different food sources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Fish started responding to the presence of the feed blocks after only 2 hr and readily grazed from them throughout the assessment period. It was expected that the fish would readily graze from the feed blocks given their strong opportunistic feeding behaviour as seen in previous studies (Imsland, Reynolds, Eliassen, Hangstad, Foss, et al., ; Imsland et al., ,b;Imsland et al., ) and their need to attach themselves to suitable substrates (Imsland et al., ) to conserve energy. Current data imply that the design of the feed block is vital if it to be used as a food source for lumpfish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…The biological control of sea lice in Atlantic salmon farming through the use of “cleaner fish” has recently become a feasible alternative due to the increased occurrence of resistance towards medical treatments in salmon lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Igboeli, Fast, Heumann, & Burka, ; Torrissen et al., ), the reduced public acceptance of chemotherapeutic use in food production, and the urgent need for an effective and sustainable method of parasite control in Atlantic salmon aquaculture (Boxaspen, ; Denholm et al., ; Treasurer, ). As a cold‐water cleaner fish, the common lumpfish ( Cyclopterus lumpus ) has been suggested and initial results are very promising with up to 93%–97% less sea lice infection (adult female lice) in sea pens with lumpfish (Imsland, Reynolds, Eliassen, Hangstad, Foss, et al., ; Imsland et al., ,b; Imsland et al., ,b). Lumpfish in sea pens are strongly opportunistic and the fish do not restrict themselves or rely on a single food source if others are present (Imsland et al., ) and a very high proportion of the lumpfish in salmon sea pens are found with pellets in their stomach (Imsland, Reynolds, Eliassen, Hangstad, Foss, et al., ; Imsland et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Presently, lumpfish stocked in commercial salmon pens are being fed extruded pelleted feed usually delivered from feed automats around the edge of the cages. This method has clear limitations as lumpfish have been shown to be opportunistic feeders and readily exploit available food sources (Imsland, Reynolds, Eliassen, Hangstad, Foss, et al., ; Imsland et al., ,b). Such a food source which may be predictable both spatially and temporally may result in most of the lumpfish maintaining position around the periphery of the cages and reduces their potential for grazing sea lice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feeding behaviour and growth of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) fed with feed blocks

Imsland

Reynolds²,

Hangstad

et al. 2018

Aquac Res

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The aim of this project was to investigate if lumpfish can be fed using specially designed feed blocks instead of regular fish feed pellets. Two studies were performed. In Part I different designs of feed blocks were introduced and fish observed with underwater cameras to record feeding behaviour. Results indicate that lumpfish require feed blocks with grooves in order to graze from them and that the acclimation period is relatively short (2–4 hr) before the fish will use them as a feed source. In the second part of the project two duplicate groups of lumpfish with an initial mean (±SD) weight of 125.4 ± 45.7 g were individually weighed and randomly distributed into six 3.5 m3 circular flow‐through tanks with 45 fish in each tank. Fish in three tanks were fed using feed blocks with grooves and fish in three tanks were fed using a regular commercially available lumpfish extruded feed. Both groups received a daily feeding rate of 2% body/weight. From day 14 onwards, fish fed with marine pelleted feed had a significantly higher mean weight compared to fish fed with feed blocks. Although not significant, the condition factor was higher in the feed block group during the study period. Results from this study show that lumpfish will readily graze from feed blocks if they are presented in a way that allows them to do. In addition, the acclimation period required before the fish will utilize them appears to be short thus potentially allowing for their use in commercial salmon cages.

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Assessment of suitable substrates for lumpfish in sea pens

Imsland

Reynolds²,

Eliassen³

et al. 2014

Aquacult Int

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Notes on the behaviour of lumpfish in sea pens with and without Atlantic salmon present

Cited by 75 publications

References 24 publications

Use of lumpfish for sea‐lice control in salmon farming: challenges and opportunities

Use of lumpfish for sea‐lice control in salmon farming: challenges and opportunities

Feeding behaviour and growth of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) fed with feed blocks

Assessment of suitable substrates for lumpfish in sea pens

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