Comparison of Electronarcosis and Carbon Dioxide Sedation Effects on Travel Time in Adult Chinook and Coho Salmon

Abstract

The immobilization of fish during handling is crucial in avoiding injury to fish and is thought to reduce handling stress. Chemical sedatives have been a primary choice for fish immobilization. However, most chemical sedatives accumulate in tissues, and often food fishes must be held until accumulations degrade to levels safe for human consumption. Historically, there have been few options for nonchemical sedation. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been widely used for decades as a sedative, and while it does not require a degradation period, it does have drawbacks. The use of electronarcosis is another nonchemical option that does not require degradation time. However, little is known about the latent and delayed effects on migration rates of adult salmonids that have been immobilized with electricity. We compared the travel times of adult Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and Coho Salmon O. kisutch through a fishway at river kilometer (rkm) 4, and to rkm 16 and rkm 32 after being immobilized with either CO₂ or electronarcosis. Travel times of fish treated with either CO₂ or electronarcosis were similar within species. Because of the nearly instantaneous induction of and recovery from electronarcosis, we recommend it as an alternative to CO₂ for handling large adult salmonids.

Received February 17, 2015; accepted June 27, 2015

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Ian Jezorek and Brad Liedtke from the U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia River Research Laboratory, for their assistance in proofing data collected in this study; Adam Pope of the U.S. Geological Survey for assistance with statistical analysis; and Bennie J. Martinez and Scott L. Spino, Yakama Nation fisheries technicians, for their assistance during the collection of these data. Funding was provided by the Bonneville Power Administration. The findings and conclusions in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Geological Survey, Bonneville Power Administration, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, or the Yakama Nation. Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.