Studying Behavior of Cultured Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) using 3D Acoustic Telemetry in Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract

Climate change is altering ocean environments worldwide, requiring a better understanding of how these shifting will affect fish welfare in aquaculture farms. Storms have increased in strength and frequency, potentially affecting fish welfare. Furthermore, ocean temperature rise and increased occurrence of low oxygen events affect fish behavior, physiology, and health. Farms worldwide have begun to experiment with oxygen supplementation systems to counteract low oxygen from climate change. In this thesis, high resolution, high frequency acoustic tags were used to track movement of Atlantic salmon at two commercial fish farms in Nova Scotia, Canada. The positioning of 30 fish was recorded to characterize fish movement through four variables: depth, velocity, distance from center, and turning angle. A baseline of fish behavior was determined and the effects of temperature, dissolved oxygen, feeding, storms, and an oxygen supplementation system were studied. Overall, this thesis provides information on fish behavior leading to improved understanding of fish welfare in a changing climate.