Precocious Sexual Maturation in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Postsmolts Reared in a Seawater Impoundment

Abstract

Female Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, usually become sexually mature following a minimum of one winter at sea. Between 4 and 16% maturation was observed for both sexes in two different stocks of salmon placed in sea water as 1+ yr smolts and subsequently reared one summer. Only the larger females and the smaller males matured. Egg size and fertility appeared normal. Smoltification at an early age or accelerated growth rates may be responsible for this phenomenon. Key words: Salinity tolerance, pen-rearing, brood stock, growth rates