Intensive Rearing of Arctic Intensive Rearing of Arctic GraylingGrayling

Chuck PrattChuck PrattFish Culturist IIFish Culturist II

Broodstock Development CenterBroodstock Development CenterFort Richardson HatcheryFort Richardson Hatchery

Alaska Dept. Of Fish and GameAlaska Dept. Of Fish and Game

““You are not a real fish culturist You are not a real fish culturist until you kill 100,000 fish”until you kill 100,000 fish”

Dr. Steven FlickingerDr. Steven Flickinger Colorado State UniversityColorado State University

Arctic Grayling at Fort RichardsonArctic Grayling at Fort Richardson

Program came from Clear Hatchery in 1998Program came from Clear Hatchery in 1998Start up rearing had mixed successStart up rearing had mixed success

BioKyowaBioKyowa feed imported from Japan feed imported from Japan ‘01 Started in 4’ circular tanks‘01 Started in 4’ circular tanks‘02 Highest survival of fry ‘02 Highest survival of fry

Mad Cow in JapanMad Cow in Japan‘03 ‘03 BioKyowaBioKyowa feed blocked from import feed blocked from import ’04 Moore Clark Nutra Mash through a coffee grinder’04 Moore Clark Nutra Mash through a coffee grinder’05 ’05 GemmaGemma from Francefrom France

39% & 62%39% & 62%

59%59%79%79%

42%42%17%17%7%7%

% survival % survival ponding to ponding to

releaserelease

’’06 Experimentation06 Experimentation

Split incubation into 2 lots, 6Split incubation into 2 lots, 6oo and 10and 10oo CCArtemia Artemia -- Pumped continuously with a metering pump.Pumped continuously with a metering pump.

Cyclopeeze Cyclopeeze --Fed on a belt feeder and by hand fed.Fed on a belt feeder and by hand fed.

Aquarium Light Aquarium Light –– 24 hour photoperiod, on the tanks24 hour photoperiod, on the tanks

Lots of worrying and frettingLots of worrying and fretting49% Rearing survival with the highest 49% Rearing survival with the highest production release 130,000 Fingerlingproduction release 130,000 FingerlingFirst known release of triploid graylingFirst known release of triploid grayling

Arctic Grayling at Fort RichardsonArctic Grayling at Fort Richardson

Program came from Clear Hatchery in 1998Program came from Clear Hatchery in 1998Start up rearing had mixed successStart up rearing had mixed success 39% & 62%39% & 62%

BioKyowaBioKyowa feed imported from Japanfeed imported from Japan‘01 Started in 4’ circular tanks ‘01 Started in 4’ circular tanks 59%59%‘02 Highest survival of fry. ‘02 Highest survival of fry. 79% 79%

Mad cow in Japan Mad cow in Japan ‘03 ‘03 BioKyowaBioKyowa feed blocked from import feed blocked from import 42%42%’04 Moore Clark Nutra Mash through a coffee grinder’04 Moore Clark Nutra Mash through a coffee grinder 17%17%’05 ’05 GemmaGemma from France, did not meet stocking goals 7%from France, did not meet stocking goals 7%’06 Incubated at 6’06 Incubated at 6oo

& 10& 10oo

C, Artemia and Cyclopeeze, C, Artemia and Cyclopeeze, 49%49%surplus grayling, Triploids, surplus grayling, Triploids, highest production release 139,600highest production release 139,600

’07 Artemia and Cyclopeeze, surplus grayling, Triploids ’07 Artemia and Cyclopeeze, surplus grayling, Triploids 60%60%

% survival % survival ponding to ponding to

releaserelease

31.5 eggs/ml31.5 eggs/ml

3.5 mm 3.5 mm diameterdiameter

400 ml = 12,500 eggs400 ml = 12,500 eggs

Eyeballs and a TailEyeballs and a Tail

L = 14mmL = 14mm

Artemia Hatching ConesArtemia Hatching Cones

16 liters 16 liters 2 g cysts / liter2 g cysts / liter2828oo CC28 ppt salinity28 ppt salinity24 hours incubation24 hours incubation

Platinum ArtemiaPlatinum Artemia

330,000 cysts 330,000 cysts per gramper gram

10.5 Million 10.5 Million Artemia per dayArtemia per day

Belt FeederBelt Feeder

Aquarium Aquarium LightLight

Peristaltic Peristaltic PumpPump

Artemia Artemia Stock Stock SolutionSolution

Artemia & Cyclopeeze fed Artemia & Cyclopeeze fed for 10 daysfor 10 daysBioVita Mash mixed with BioVita Mash mixed with CyclopeezeCyclopeezeArtemia fed for a total of Artemia fed for a total of 21 days21 days35,000 Ponded in 7” 35,000 Ponded in 7” 1 gpm 1 gpm 800 micron screen800 micron screen12.512.500 CC

Factors Affecting Grayling Start UpFactors Affecting Grayling Start Up

Hatch then swim up as larval fryHatch then swim up as larval fry.01 gram vs. .45 gram Chinook.01 gram vs. .45 gram ChinookMust have food 24 hours a dayMust have food 24 hours a dayThree days to get feedingThree days to get feedingEverything looks great until 7Everything looks great until 7--10 day post 10 day post pondingponding

The Black Ring of Death

The Pay OffThe Pay Off

15 Kg/m315 Kg/m3

.7 grams .7 grams 57 days post ponding, 57 days post ponding,

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

Reduce egg request to relieve pressure on wild stockReduce egg request to relieve pressure on wild stockIncrease stocking goals of both 2N and 3NIncrease stocking goals of both 2N and 3NExperiment with Cyclopeeze and Artemia fed separatelyExperiment with Cyclopeeze and Artemia fed separatelyDifferent feed ratesDifferent feed ratesDifferent ponding densitiesDifferent ponding densities“Good Bye, Black Ring of Death”“Good Bye, Black Ring of Death”