title: The effect of catch-and-release angling at high water temperatures on behaviour and survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar during spawning migration.
abstract: In this study, behaviour and survival following catch-and-release (C&R) angling was investigated in wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (n = 75) angled on sport fishing gear in the River Otra in southern Norway at water temperatures of 16.3-21.1 °C. Salmo salar were tagged externally with radio transmitters and immediately released back into the river to simulate a realistic C&R situation. The majority of S. salar (91%) survived C&R. Most S. salar that were present in the River Otra during the spawning period 3-4 months later were located at known spawning grounds. Downstream movements (median furthest position: 0.5 km, range: 0.1-11.0 km) during the first 4 days after release were recorded for 72% of S. salar, presumably stress-induced fallback associated with C&R. Individuals that fell back spent a median of 15 days before commencing their first upstream movement after release, and 34 days before they returned to or were located above their release site. Mortality appeared to be somewhat elevated at the higher end of the temperature range (14% at 18-21 °C), although sample sizes were low. In conclusion, C&R at water temperatures up to 18 °C had small behavioural consequences and was associated with low mortality (7%). Nevertheless, low levels of mortality occur due to C&R angling and these losses should be accounted for by management authorities in rivers where C&R is practised. Refinement of best practices for C&R may help to reduce mortality, particularly at warmer temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, NO-7034, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Havn
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, NO-7034, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uglem
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, NO-7034, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Ø
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Solem
authors.affiliation: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Ocean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Whoriskey
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, NO-7034, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Thorstad
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D006802:Human Activities; D009664:Norway; D045483:Rivers; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature
keywords: biotelemetry; fisheries management; radio-telemetry; recreational fishing