Apr
               MAY
				Jun11
				Next capture2008
               2009
				2010**2 captures**
           8 May 09 - 11 May 09
   Close
       Help


Ashland NFWCO
 Midwest Region
 ***Dedicated To Tribal Aquaculture Programs***
      Fish Jumping
          **March 2000 ~ Volume 31****Coordinator:
                  Frank G. Stone 
                  (715-682-6185) Ext. 12
                  U.S. Fish and
                  Wildlife Service
                Email: [email protected]** Topics
  of Interest: MTAN ArrowMinnesota Aquaculture  Conference and Tradeshow
  MTAN ArrowTribal Hatchery Spotlight - Red Cliff and White Earth   Reservations
  MTAN ArrowGulf Sturgeon Spawning  Techniques (Part 2)
  MTAN ArrowHatchery Tip  Minnesota  Aquaculture Conference and Tradeshow The 12th Annual Minnesota Aquaculture Conference and  Tradeshow will be held at the Grand Casino Hotel in Hinckley MN.  on February 18-19, 2000. There will be topics of interest for everyone at this  conference. Beginning fish farmers can learn from the experienced who are in  the trenches of managing a fish production facility. Established producers can  learn from each other, have a face-to-face conversation with your suppliers and  an opportunity to talk with aquaculture researchers. Several core topic areas  have been placed on the agenda: Running Successful Fish Farms, Fish Health  Management, Bait Culture, Marketing, and Modern Trends and Techniques on Aquaculture  Management. For more information contact Richard Ying Ji (651-296-5081) or Todd  Sisson (218-281-7600).  Tribal Hatchery Spotlight - Red Cliff and White Earth  Reservations **The Red Cliff Tribal Fish Hatchery** was established in 1994, as a  trout and walleye rearing facility. Through the years the hatchery has  increased in size and production into a comprehensive fish culture program. The  40' x 100' main building houses the fisheries and hatchery management offices,  and the intensive coldwater production area which includes: an incubation area,  fry tanks, laboratory, furnace/pump room, and twenty large raceways for  fingerlings and broodstock fish. Cold water (47 F) is supplied from two 300'  wells with 50hp submersible pumps capable of 600 gallons per minute each. Red  Cliff has developed a coaster brook trout (Lake Nipigon strain) broodstock  consisting of three year classes with assistance from the Dorian Fish Culture  Station in Ontario.  These broodstock began producing eggs during the fall of 1997 and are being  used in the restoration/reintroduction of coaster brook trout in Lake Superior. Currently, this is the only known  broodstock for the Lake Nipigon strain brook trout that is available in the U.S. The Red  Cliff Tribal Fish Hatchery is a disease free facility and is designated as a  AClass A@ facility by the USFWS   LaCrosse Fish   Health Center. Red Cliff is also actively involved in raising walleye  throughout the summer. Eggs and milt are collected from tribally speared fish  in the spring. The fertilized eggs are transported to the coolwater production  area for incubation. A new building was constructed in 1997 for coolwater species  rearing. This building contains a bell jar incubation battery and several Big  Redd incubation units, capable of incubating over 8.0 million walleye eggs, two  rectangle fry tanks, and six circular rearing tanks for intensive culture.  After hatching, the walleye fry are placed into the hatcheries' drainable  rearing ponds or into several cooperator's ponds for additional rearing.  Extended growth walleyes (6-10 inches) are removed from the ponds in the fall,  marked, and released back to the lakes that they were initially collected from  as eggs. Any question, suggestions, or to schedule a tour of the hatchery  please contact Greg Fischer at 715-779-3728 
  or Email, [email protected] **The White Earth hatchery**, managed through the tribe's  biology department, has been in production since 1982. The hatchery is located  south of Ice Cracking  Lake in Minnesota and is operated for the benefit of  the White Earth Reservation's Chippewa people. Reservation lakes have been the  target of the hatchery's stocking program since its inception. In 1992, a  record 202,575 walleyes were stocked in 36 lakes and one river. A total of  514,385 walleyes have been stocked since the program began in 1983. Like other tribal hatcheries, the facility has continued to  improve and expand over the years. Expansion included the construction of four,  2 acre rearing ponds capable of producing 140,000 walleye fingerlings per year,  a new settling pond, a lake pumping station, and a well head filtration protection  unit. In addition, the hatchery has improved both site security and site  maintenance. The fishery program also operates 10-15 natural ponds for an  additional 70,000 walleye fingerlings per year. In addition, new technologies that are being applied to walleye  and other cool/coldwater species culture will soon be implemented. The current  goal is to stabilize production at approximately 50,000 fingerlings per year  throughout the fish hatchery's rearing pond complex and natural ponds. The tribe is actively managing seventy four lakes. Current  fishery management operations include electrofishing lakes to help determine  the level of natural reproduction, lake population assessments, winterkill  stocking assessments, and creel census.  Gulf Sturgeon Spawning Techniques - Part 2 of 2 **Submitted By: Allen Brown, Welaka NFH, Welaka, FL** IV. Hormone (CCP) Injection Schedule Hormone (CCP) Dose Rate for Gulf Sturgeon: Females - 4.0 mg/kg body weight Males - 2.0-3.0 mg/kg body weight A. Hormone Injection Prior to the injection, the female is removed from the large  holding tank and placed in a small spawning- ovulation tank. The tank is  covered and water and oxygen are introduced at the head end of the tank. The  males are not moved. A plastic disposable syringe (1-3 cc) fitted with a 23 to 25  gauge needle 2.5 to 4.0 cm long is used to administer the hormone. Injections  are administered in the muscle between the lateral and dorsal scutes within the  area extending from the base of the pectoral fin to the mid-section of the  fish. No more than 1. 5 cc of solution should be injected in one spot. It is  best to administer hormone injections (totaling over 1.5 cc) over both sides of  the fish. Injections should be given underwater to reduce stress on  the fish. The injection should be made with the syringe held perpendicular to  the fish's body. When the needle is withdrawn, place a finger over the puncture  for several seconds to prevent any back pressure expelling the solution and  massage the area when completed. B. Females Spawning induction includes two hormone injections: The initial (warmup) total dose amounts to 10% of the total  dose and is usually administered between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM. The final  resolving dose (90% of total dose) is administered about 12 hours after the  initial dose. NOTE: The final dose should not be administered until males  have been confirmed to possess viable milt. C. Female Response Depending on water temperature, ovulation can be expected  within 13 to 24 hours after administration of the second or final (resolving)  injection. Egg checks should be initiated 12 hours after the second injection  and every two hours thereafter. Care should be taken as not to disturb the  female during this period. The appearance of several eggs stuck to the bottom  and/or sides of the tank or removal pads indicates ovulation. Sturgeon eggs  will secrete an adhesive substance in contact with water. If the eggs are not  sticky, the female may have released eggs prematurely or other problems may be  forthcoming. When the number of sticky eggs in the tank increases substantially  (several hundred), the fish should be prepared for surgical removal of oocytes. D. Males The total dose of hormone is administered to the male when  the female receives her initial hormone injection. If males are flowing at the  time of capture, a single hormone injection is given when the female receives  the final injection. E. Male Response The male will usually begin to produce milt about 20 hours  after hormone injection in water temperatures of 14-17 C. If it is necessary to  inspect the fish for milting, exercise care so as not to excite the fish and  thus, waste the milt. F. Milt Extraction Milt can be collected as soon as ovulation occurs and/or  just prior to fertilization. a. Remove the fish from the holding tank and proceed as  described in the fish evaluation section.
  b. Dry the uro-genital area thoroughly with paper towels. Be  careful not to contaminate the sperm with water.
  c. Extract the milt using a 20-50 cc plastic syringe fitted  with a 10 cm length of tygon tubing attached to the nipple of the  syringe.
  d. Cut the tapered tip (3 cm) off a plastic dropper or  pipette and fit over the end of the tygon tubing. Insert the tapered tip/tubing  into the genital opening located posterior to the anus.
  e. Massage the abdominal area and withdraw the plunger while  moving the tubing back and forth. Be careful not to contaminate the sperm with  feces, blood, or water. G. Milt Storage Milt not needed at the time of extraction can be stored for  short periods. 1. Milt maintained in the collection syringe;
  a. Add pure oxygen to the tygon collection tube of the  syringe containing the milt while slowly withdrawing the plunger.
    b. Agitate the contents of the syringe to assure maximum  oxygenation, and clamp or plug the tube for storage.
    c. Place in refrigerator and replace oxygen every 12 hours.
  2 . Milt maintained in a flask
  a. Expel the milt from the syringe into a dry 250 ml glass  container (flask) embedded in a tray of ice.
    b. Cover the container opening with a paraffin sheet seal  ("parafilm") and cut an AX@ into the seal to allow oxygen exchange.
    c. Refrigerate the milt if not used immediately.
    d. Enclose the tray in a plastic bag, add pure oxygen to the  bag, and seal.
    e. Place in refrigerator and replace oxygen every 12 hours. DATA GAP: Ensuring that viable sperm is available for  fertilization at the time of ovulation is a serious concern, especially when  dealing with small numbers of broodfish. Maintaining the viability of sperm  over extended periods would enhance the prospects of successful artificial  propagation. H. Sperm viability Sperm should be examined with a microscope to determine its  viability before it is used to fertilize eggs. Sperm viability is determined by  adding one drop of sperm to a microscope slide, activating the sperm by adding  one drop of water, and proceeding with the following: 1. Estimate the ratio of motile to nonmotile sperm at 30  seconds.
  2. Record the time when 50% of the sperm show activity.
  3. Record the time sperm activity stops. Milt that has been  on ice should be warmed to 16 C being checked. V. SPAWNING A . Egg Removal 1 . Position the female on the stretcher, belly up, with  water tube in place.
  2. Disinfect abdominal area.
  3. Enlarge the incision (8.0 to 10.0 cm) that was made for  evaluation of the female.
  4. Remove only eggs that can be easily reached with a  plastic spoon, taking care to avoid internal organs, especially in the upper  body cavity.
  5. Spoon eggs into clean, dry stainless bowls (use several  bowls).
  6. Take care not to put any blood or tissue in the egg  bowls.
  7. After the eggs are removed, disinfect and suture  incision.
  8. Return the fish to the holding tank. B. Sperm Dilution Sturgeon sperm have a short, viable period following water  activation and should not be diluted until time of use. Standard dilution is  1:200 milt to hatchery water. If sperm is limited, the ratio can be increased  to 1:500 milt to water. Milt produced at the end of the spawning season may not  have the number of sperm per sample as it would earlier, consequently the ratio  of milt to water should be decreased to 1:100. C. Egg Fertilization 1. Prior to fertilization, pour off the excess fluid in the  egg collection bowl.
  2 . Add the diluted milt solution to the egg bowl and gently  hand stir the mixture for two to three minutes.
  3. If the eggs start to get sticky during the fertilization,  discontinue, pour off the excess fluid and start the de-adhesion process. D. Egg De-adhesion Sturgeon eggs are adhesive, forming a sticky jelly coat on  the surface when exposed to water. In order to prevent the eggs from sticking  to each other and clumping, the eggs must be submitted to a de-adhesion  process. The following de-adhesion processes have been used for Gulf sturgeon  eggs. 1 . "Fullers Earth" is a fine, powdery clay  mixture. The length of time for egg de-adhesion varies from 30 minutes to 1  hour. Longer periods cause damage to the egg membrane; however, "Fullers  Earth" mixed with clay reduces the de-adhesion period by 50 percent.
  a . Maintain a constant temperature in the egg bowl by  floating it in one of the water tanks while the de-adhesion process is being  administered.
    b . Fill the egg bowl with clean hatchery water and add a  handful of "Fullers Earth" to the bowl.
    c . Hand stir the egg mass slowly, breaking up egg clumps if  they occur.
    d. Change the silt suspension every ten minutes by decanting  the old solution and adding fresh water and Fullers Earth.
    e . Continue the process until eggs do not stick to your  fingers.
    f . Flush eggs with hatchery water until the solution runs  clear. The eggs are now ready to be placed in the incubation system.
  2. Tannic Acid
  a . Add 15 grams urea plus 20 grams deionized salt to a  hatching jar with 5 L of water (static treatment).
    b. Place air stone in jar, add eggs, and aerate media.
    c . Let stand for 10 minutes, remove air stone and let eggs  settle.
    d . Pour off and dispose of the urea/salt solution.
    e . Add 0.75 grams of tannic acid, refill jar to 5-L mark,  add air stone and let bubble for 6 to 10 minutes.
    f. Remove air stone and turn water back on after completion  of Step e.
    g. If eggs start to clump, turn off water and add air stone,  0.75 grams of tanic acid and bubble for 6 minutes. E. Egg Enumeration 1. Weigh the stainless steel egg-taking pans prior to use.
  2 . Weigh a 1 g sample of eggs and count the number of eggs  in the sample to obtain the number of eggs per gram (take three samples).
  3 . The number of eggs per gram times the total egg weight  equals the total number of eggs in the spawn. VI. EGG INCUBATION A. Vertical Drip Type Incubator 1 . Fertilized eggs are not subject to de-adhesion, but  placed directly on the screen tray (30.0 x 35.0 x 2.0 cm).
  2 . Use a feather or small paint brush to distribute the  eggs evenly on the tray.
  3 . Number of eggs/tray = 18,000 to 22,000; 4 . Water flow  set at 18 L/m.
  a . Advantages: Requires little space
    b. Disadvantages:
  1 . Eggs very susceptible to fungus.
  2 . Trays must be removed from the cabinet to observe eggs  which would result in higher risk of damaging the eggs during critical periods  of development.
  3 . Fry have difficulty in swimming out of the trays. B . Slanted Trays 1 . Fertilized eggs are not subject to de-adhesion, but  placed directly on screen trays (26.0 x 35.0 x 2.0 cm).
  2. Use a feather or small paint brush to distribute eggs  evenly on the tray.
  3. Number of eggs/tray = 18,000.
  4. The trays are placed in a slanted position in a trough  (0.26 x 0.26 x 2.73 m).
  5. Water flow set at 18 L/m.
  6. Cover the trough to shield the eggs from high light  levels.
  a . Advantages:
  1 . Eggs are in full view.
    2 . Low cost.
    3 . Larvae can remain in the trough for rearing.
  b. Disadvantages:
  1. Eggs are very susceptible to fungus.
    2. Requires a large amount of space.
    3. Larvae can become lodged on discharge screen. C. McDonald Hatching Jars 1. Fertilized eggs are subject to de-adhesion.
  2. Number of eggs per 5 L jar = 16,000-25,000.
  3. Water flow adjusted to keep eggs rolling gently (7-10  L/m).
  4. After neurulation has occurred in the eggs, increase the  water flow for a more rapid rolling of the eggs. (10-15 L/m).
  5. Shelter eggs from direct light especially during  neurological development.
  a. Advantages:
  1. Eggs do not usually require treatment for fungus.
    2 . Eggs are in full view.
  b. Disadvantages:
  1. Fry had some difficulty swimming out of the jars. Siphon  tubes set midway in the jars were effective in helping to remove fry.
    2 . High initial cost. D. Egg Hatching Time Hatching time and success varied with water temperature.  Eggs incubated at 22.7 - 23.3 C hatched in 54.5 hr with a 7% hatching success.  Eggs incubated at 15.6 - 17.2 C and 19.5 - 21.0 C hatched in 95 and 65-72 hours  respectively, and had a hatching success of 49% and 20%. DATA GAP: Hatching success is dependent on incubating the  eggs at the ideal water temperature. Data indicates that eggs incubated at  water temperatures in excess of 22.0 C have poor hatching success. Also, eggs  incubated at cooler water temperature have a better hatching success, but  fungus could pose a problem in the extended incubation periods. Research is  recommended to document the ideal incubation temperature for Gulf sturgeon  eggs. E . Larval Holding Tanks Circular larval tanks work very well for receiving larvae  from the egg incubation system. Tanks with a capacity of 300-400 liters of  water should support 80,000-100,000 larvae. The tank should have a 5. 0 cm  center standpipe. In addition, a 15.0-20.0 cm fine mesh screen barrier should  be placed around the standpipe to provide a maximum drain area in order to  decrease the potential of egg shells and larvae clogging the screens. A  perforated oxygen tube wound around the base and stem of the screen barrier  will aid in maintaining a clean screen and provide oxygen to the system. Water  flows should be about 10 to 20 L/m. F. Antibiotic Treatment Approved drugs have been used to treat sturgeon with varying  degrees of success. DATA GAP: Only a small number of approved drugs are available  for treating fishery diseases. Research programs are needed to identify those  drugs and chemicals that are safe to use and effective in controlling fish  disease. G. Egg and Fry Shipping Fertilized Gulf sturgeon eggs subject to de-adhesion have been  transported for short distances. Parauka (personal communication 1992) reported  25,000 eggs were placed in an 18 L plastic shipping bag with 4 L of hatchery  water into which pure oxygen was injected, and the bag sealed and transported  for 5 hours without any mortality. Procedures for shipping larvae are the same  as for fertilized eggs. One-day old larvae (2,000-5,000 larvae/bag) packed in  insulated containers have been transported successfully for up to 24 hours. H. Equipment Used for Surgical Examination of Sturgeon Hooded stretcher
  Stretcher rack (saw horses)
  Water tube
  Razor blades
  Forceps, suture needle
  Hemostats, straight and curved
  4.0-5.0 mm tygon tubing (od)
  2.5 cm od tygon tubing
  Sample vials, 50-100 ml
  Record book, Scale
  Hot plate or stove
  Shallow tray, 30.5-61 cm
  Paper towels, Wash  bottle
  Scalpels with #10 and #15 blades
  Forceps, Adson-Brown tissue
  Forceps, common, straight and curved
  Liebovitz L-15 incubation medium
  Identification tags (cattle ear and Floy spaghetti streamer)
  Tape measure
  150-ml beakers
  Dissecting microscope
  Crushed ice
  Ground glass tissue homogenizer
  Disposable petri plates
  Balance
  Formalin, 4.0% buffered solution
  Monofilament suture material swedged to half-circle surgical  needles
  23-25 gauge, 3.2-cm long needles with transparent hub
  1.0-3.0 cc plastic disposable injection syringes
  Sterile distilled water or 6% physiological saline
  Progesterone maturation steroid stock solution
  Triiodothyronine
  Induction hormone: Acetone-dried common carp pituitary
  Refrigerator
  Vegetable shortening (Pam) I. Gulf Sturgeon Egg Hatching Time  **Water
          Temperature (C)**
        **Incubation
          System**
        **Hatching Time (hr)**22.7-23.3
        Vertical Drip
        54.522.2
        Vertical Drip
        59.018.4
        McDonald Jars
        85.519.5-20.5
        Slanted Trays
        69.019.5-20.5
        McDonald Jars
        72.7519.5-20.5
        Vertical Drip
        70.2520.0-21.0
        McDonald Jars
        65.019.5-21.0
        Vertical Drip
        69.015.6-17.2
        McDonald Jars
        95.25  **CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATIONS** The information gained from this three-year Gulf sturgeon  project was important in formulating artificial spawning guidelines for the  species, and developing hatchery capabilities as a tool to facilitate recovery  of the species throughout its historic range. The future of the Gulf sturgeon  may depend on research and hatchery efforts directed toward developing and  refining fish culture techniques, as well as habitat protection and informed  management of the species in its native environment. Programs to artificially spawn Gulf sturgeon should continue  with efforts directed toward researching solutions to the AData Gaps@  encountered during the project. In addition, a number of procedures used during  the project were very successful and should be continued. Some techniques need  further refinement and development to achieve optimum results. Recommendations  include the following: 1 . Develop procedures for maintaining the viability of  sperm for extended periods (one year+).
  2. Improve techniques to evaluate all potential female  candidates by determining the position of the germinal vesicle (GV) and the  percent of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in the oocyte.
  3. Initiate studies using FDA approved synthetic hormones to  induce and enhance ovulation and spermatogenesis.
  4. Evaluate the use of FDA approved anesthetics to reduce  the stress on fish associated with handling and spawning.
  5. Conduct research regarding the length of time females can  be confined and still ovulate successfully.
  6. Produce a set of color plates depicting the various  stages of reproductive tissue development.
  7. Define the range and optimum water quality parameters for  incubating Gulf sturgeon eggs.
  8. Evaluate the various methods and materials currently used  for egg de-adhesion.
  9 . Initiate FDA clearance procedures for effective  antibiotics that can be safely used in all phases of sturgeon culture.
  10. Investigate methods to reduce broodstock stress  associated capture, transport, handling, and holding. Hatchery Tip **New Belt Feeders From WMT:** If your fish rearing program is in the need of new  "Belt" type fish feeders you may want to look at the model made by  Water Management Technologies (WMT). New improvements made to the clock  assembly and feeder body make this product a must have for fish hatchery  operations. WMT also has an upgrade kit that includes clocks, clock cover, belt  assembly and stainless steel parts. If you would like to learn more about the  Mini (5 pound) and maxi (10 pound) belt type feeders, call WMT at 877-755-0026.   **Return
          to MTAN selection pageReturn to Ashland NFWCO home pageReturn to Region 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service**  Product and company
          names mentioned in this publication are for informational purposes only.
          It does not imply endorsement by the MTAN or the U.S. Government.
 
  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page Department of the Interior USA.gov About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Accessibility Privacy Notices Disclaimer FOIA
 Find Office By ProgramAdministrationEcological ServicesExternal AffairsFisheriesLaw EnforcementMigratory BirdsRefugesState Programs