Density affects rearing performance of juvenile landlocked fall Chinook Salmon.

This article focuses on the effects of rearing density on the growth performance and survival of newly feed-trained juvenile landlocked fall Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in hatchery conditions. Juvenile salmon were reared for 66 days in 1.8-meter diameter circular tanks at low, intermediate, and high densities corresponding to initial loadings of 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 fish per tank, with final densities ranging from 8.93 to 26.86 kg/m³. Results showed that fish at the highest density exhibited significantly reduced growth rates, smaller sizes, poorer feed conversion ratios, and lower condition factors compared to those at lower densities, while mortality rates did not differ significantly among treatments. The study recommends an initial loading of 5,000 fish per tank (final density ~16.41 kg/m³) to balance minimizing density-related negative effects and maximizing production in limited hatchery space.