The feeding, movement, and growth of pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, fry released from a hatchery in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Abstract

As part of a study that investigated the ability of Prince William Sound to support large numbers of juvenile salmon, the movements, feeding, and growth of pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, fry released in the springs of 1977 and 1978 from the Port San Juan hatchery, are described. Fry were released in Sawmill Bay but preferred the waters of adjacent Elrington Passage where they remained for up to two months. Nursery areas in the Passage established by the fry in 1977 were not occupied to the same degree in 1978. Fry fed initially on epibenthic harpacticoid copepods but soon switched to feeding on calanoid copepods. Fry growth rates and diet are comparable with results of other studies. Fry behavior affected sampling and may account for between-year differences detected in growth. Weather, food abundance, and the condition of out-migrants may also account for between-year differences in fry behavior and growth.