KVRI KR Burbot Subcommittee Meeting October 7, 2008 Nathan R. Jensen University of Idaho\Fish and Wildlife Department UI Burbot Aquaculture Progress 2008 KVRI 2000

Introduction Where we left off Goal and Objectives 2008 Summaries: Observational studies Production Presentation outline 1 mm

Where we left off 2007 Spawning: Expect volitional spawning to occur w/wo hormone. Incubation: Increase number of Imhoff cones. Treat eggs with Iodine during water hardening. Larval feeding: Expand live feed production. Feed live prey >50 days before transition. Hand feed commercial diets and explore other diets. Artificial pond culture: Graduate student (MS) project. Cryopreservation: Continue establishing germ plasm repositories at UI.

Goal: Produce 5,000 commercial diet transitioned burbot. Observations: Observe Ovaplant affect on spawning behavior. Observe sensitivity of water hardening eggs to Ovadine. Compare Otohime and INVE larval weaning diets Goal, Observational studies

1.Further observe Ovaplant affect on spawning behavior 20 females observed: a.10 females given Ovaplant injections. b.10 females not Injected. Objective 1 – Spawning observation

2.Observe water hardening egg sensitivity to Ovadine 11 spawns included in study a.Treated eggs with 0, 25 or 50ppm Povidone Iodine b.Determined percent live eggs at 48 hours; 3 samples per incubator Objective 2 - Ovadine observation

3.Compare Otohime and INVE larval diets 4600 larvae stocked into each of four tanks after 10 weeks of live diet feeding a.Larval weaning diets fed six weeks b.Survival, growth, length, cannibalism compared Objective 3 - Larval feed trial

Spawning behavior summary : Ovaplant injected: 100 % spawned 0 % rest year No Oviplant: 80 % spawned 20 % rest year Spawning observation results

Spawning behavior summary: Ovaplant injected: 70 % volitionally spawned 30 % spawned manually No Oviplant: 30 % volitionally spawned 50 % spawned manually Spawning observation results

Ovadine observation results Note: No statistical analysis because not all treatments applied to all individual spawns.

Larval feed trial results - survival NOTE: No significant difference 31 d or 46 d post dry diet introduction; p = and respectively (n=2).

Larval feed trial results – growth Relative growth rates: Per day: INVE = 0.15 mm. Otohime = 0.13 mm. Per month: INVE = 4.6 mm. Otohime = 4.0 mm.

Larval feed trial results - length NOTE: Larval lengths were found significantly different; p =

Larval feed trial - Cannibalism Cannibals per tank: INVE = 23 and 24. Otohime = 10 and 14. Relative percent at end of trial in each tank: INVE = 2% and 7%. Otohime = 1% and 2%. Cannibals were removed when observed.

Production Overview 2008 Outline: 1.Spawning 2.Incubation 3.Live feeds 4.Larval / Juvenile survival 5.Cryopreservation

Spawning 2008 Spawning results: 16 spawning events occurred. 12 events were volitional. 5 females had rest year. 21 of 25 males produced milt.

Spawning 2008 Egg collection results: 7.6 M eggs were collected. Fertilization averaged 84%; o range %. 6.7 M eggs became fertilized.

Incubation 2008 Incubation results: Water temperature 3-5˚ C. Hatches began after ~34 d; o range d. Hatching lasted ~13 d; o range d. 55,000 cripples were culled.

Live feeds production 2008

Larvae / Juveniles - September 2008 NOTE: September 1 st ~30% were cannibals.

Cryopreservation 2008 Milt samples were cryopreserved from all 2007 captures. o Four sets of samples were cryopreserved. NOTE: All Moyie males captured to date are represented in cryo-storage (c/o Steve Patton; UI Biological Science Department. NOTE: For current inventory contact UI BioSci Department burbot semen sampling:

Research support overview 2008 UI Research: 109,000 eggs used for egg fungus control experiment. 30,000 feeding larvae to extensive rearing experiment. 600 feed trained fingerlings to disease susceptibility experiments. IDFG Research: 56,000 feeding larvae used for extensive rearing observations. Future research: Submitted 3 early life developmental sets to CSU Larval fish laboratory. c/o Darrel Snyder, curator.

Implications and plans for 2009 Spawning and gamete production: 1. Collect gametes from wild rather than new adults. 2. Continue use of hormone implants to promote repeat spawning. Live feeds production: 1. Rotifers: target production = 100 M per day. 2. Artemia: target production = 50 M per day. 3. Incorporate automated live feeds injection systems.

Implications and plans for 2009 Experiment with larval diets: 1.INVE (Lansy / EPAC diets) 2.Otohime (β and C diets) 3.Skretting (Gemma micro diets) Continue supporting UI graduate and IDFG research: 1.Extensive rearing experimentation. 2.Temperature related growth, survival and condition experimentation. There are no plans to cryopreserve milt in 2009.

Funding and Support Support: Kootenai Tribal Fish Hatchery BC Ministry of Environment Idaho Department of Fish and Game University of Idaho KVRI Funding : Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and The Bonneville Power Administration Project: ; Contracts:20490, Contact Information: Nathan R. Jensen