Focus
The main focus will be the effect on both juvenile salmon and smolts of exposure to different salinities, temperature regimes and production intensity on performance measured as growth, immune competence and disease resistance, and various aspects of physiology.
Evaluation of performance will include the parr and smolt stage, as well as subsequent sea performance, thus integrating effects over relevant production stages. The project will determine safe levels of the various parameters (salinity, temperature and production intensity) at the parr and smolt stage, and initiate development of a production model based on limitations and optimal combinations of parameters obtained from experimental studies in this and previous projects.
Implications
The proposed project will benefit the industry by providing scientific based information on the effects of currently applied production strategies, as well as recommendations to optimize fish performance and welfare to obtain a self-sufficient salmon industry in the northern region.
