Artificial hatching substrate and different time of transfer to startfeeding: Effect on growth and protease activities of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Abstract

Groups of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) eggs were hatched in a Californian hatching system with and without an astro-turf artificial substrate, and food was presented at four different points in development. Dry weight development and protease activities were studied. Irrespective of time of transfer the astro-turf reared fry were bigger than the flat screen reared fry at the termination of the experiment. In respect of growth the first and the fourth transfers were clearly suboptimal for the fry from both systems