A comparison of triploid and diploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) performance and welfare under commercial farming conditions in Norway. Issue 4 (2nd October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madaro, Angelico; Kjøglum, Sissel; Hansen, Tom; Fjelldal, Per Gunnar; Stien, Lars H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied aquaculture. Volume 34:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 1021
• Page End: 1035
• Publication Date: 2022-10-02
• Subjects: Sterile fish -- sea-cage culture -- commercial production -- growth metrics -- production evaluation; Aquaculture -- Periodicals; Fish culture -- Periodicals; 639.8
• DOI: 10.1080/10454438.2021.1916671
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-4438

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Avoiding genetic interactions between wild and farmed Atlantic salmon is regarded as one of the major requirements for a sustainable salmon aquaculture industry. For this reason, farming functional sterile triploids has been suggested as a possible solution. However, knowledge about how triploids cope under commercial conditions is lacking. In the present study, we compared the performance of diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon among four Norwegian aquaculture companies. Diploid and triploid groups of the same genetic line were farmed in western, mid, and northern Norway under commercial conditions from seawater transfer until slaughter.Overall, triploid salmon exhibited reduced survival, higher incidence of emaciated fish, and scored, on average, a lower quality rating during primary processing. The results highlight the need for further research on how to improve the welfare and performance of triploid salmon in commercial aquaculture operations.