Publication Abstract

Rearing marine fish for release into the sea

B.R. Howell and T. Ellis

The methodologies for rearing marine fishes have advanced considerably over the last four decades. This has led to commercially viable farming operations in many parts of the world. These advances have also rekindled interest in the prospect of using reared fish to supplement natural recruitment to wild stocks as a means of arresting the decline in catches common to most exploited stocks. These aspirations have often been based on the assumption that the survival potential of reared fish released into a natural environment is the same as that of their wild counterparts. Recent research and field releases, however, have shown this not to be the case, with clear differences in morphology, physiology, and behaviour being demonstrable. This paper reviews recent work on this subject, focusing particularly on fishes of importance in the North Atlantic, and suggests ways in which the labile behavioural differences may be ameliorated.

Reference:

B.R. Howell and T. Ellis, 2002. Rearing marine fish for release into the sea. ICES Marine Science Symposia, 215: 424-431.