Collaborative research of the University of Jyväskylä and Natural Research Institute Finland (Luke) presents new evidence of the effects of enriched rearing on well-being of aquaculture fishes.
Collaborative research of the University of Jyväskylä and Natural Research Institute Finland (Luke) presents new evidence of the effects of enriched rearing on well-being of aquaculture fishes. The research demonstrates that stone enrichments that have been previously conditioned in lake water significantly improve survival of fish compared to clean stones. Also a higher number of stones has a similar positive effect. The results have practical implications for prevention of aquaculture diseases. The study was published in Antibiotics in March 2021.
The research demonstrates that stone enrichments that have been previously conditioned in lake water significantly improve survival of aquaculture fish compared to clean stones. Credit: Pekka Hyvärinen/Luke
The volume of aquaculture is continuously increasing. Parasitic diseases represent a significant threat to farmed fishes and ecological solutions to minimize use of medication are being sought.
Enriched rearing, where rearing tanks are equipped with different types of structures, has been shown to reduce the impact of diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown.
“This study investigates the effect of quality and quantity of enrichments on survival of young brown trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon from a common disease of aquaculture fishes, the flavobacterial infection. Enriched tanks with just a handful of stones previously conditioned in lake water had a higher fish survival compared to tanks with clean stones or those without stones. In addition, a higher number of stones has a similar positive effect”, says senior lecturer Anssi Karvonen from the University of Jyväskylä.
Read more at: University of Jyvaskyla
The research demonstrates that stone enrichments that have been previously conditioned in lake water significantly improve survival of aquaculture fish compared to clean stones. (Photo Credit: Pekka Hyvarinen/Luke)
