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Research Document - 1999/085

Migration of Atlantic salmon kelts (Salmo salar L.) in relation to seawater temperature in Newfoundland, 1998.

By D.G. Reddin, J.B. Dempson, P. Downton, C.C. Mullins and K. Friedland

Abstract

Data storage tags (DST) manufactured by Kiwi Inc. were applied to 139 Atlantic salmon kelts at enumeration facilities on Western Arm Brook, Humber, Campbellton and Highlands rivers, Newfoundland in 1998. In total, 12 of these Kiwi DSTs were subsequently recaptured and water temperatures downloaded from 11 of them (data from tag 12 was lost in transit). Control DSTs for verification purposes were applied to kelts held in a freshwater fluvarium and indicated that water temperatures recorded by the DSTs were accurate. Results from 11 recaptured tags indicated differences between rivers and among fish within a river. Water temperature profiles are useful for indicating water temperatures encountered by salmon in freshwater and in the sea and may prove useful for determining temperature preferences. This information is important for marine climate change models and water temperature protocols for opening/closing angling fisheries in freshwater due to high water temperatures. Unlike some Pacific salmon, no diurnal movements could be inferred from the temperature profiles on the tags. The Kiwi tagged salmon spent most of their time in water from 4.7 to 16.8°C.

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