WP menu:
WP5: RAS smolt: post-smolt performance and welfare in closed Containment Systems (RAS)
WP leader: Naouel Gharbi
NORCE Norwegian Research Centre
WP leader: Patrik Tang
NORCE Norwegian Research Centre
Understanding the influence of prior environmental/stress history on smolt welfare in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and its contribution to fish preparedness and performance during the sea phase. This knowledge is key to mitigating production losses during challenging transitionary phases (e.g., FW-SW transition) and overall improving the viability and sustainability of rearing strategies.
Objectives
Using temperature, training, and their dual effects to improve smolt health and welfare to allow more resilient smolts to be transferred to sea
- How do temperatures and water velocity use in RAS influence stress, osmoregulatory and energetic functions?
- Identify an optimal thermal range to sustain the beneficial physiological effects of water velocity use in RAS that propagates improved resilience and performance of smolts at sea
Expected outcome
- Providing temperature-based guidelines for using water velocity regimes in RAS to improve fish resilience, health, and welfare
- Improving knowledge on ways to mitigate physiological stress and enhance fish recovery after transfer to sea.
- Knowledge on how prior RAS training history within a specific thermal window contributes to growth performance at sea.