Effects of Delay in Water Addition or Rinsing on Fertilization Rates of Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, and Rainbow Trout Eggs

Four species of salmonids were examined for changes in fertilization rate associated with delays in the addition of water to eggs (activation) or in rinsing eggs after water addition. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) showed no effects of delayed water addition, but both chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) showed significant declines in fertilization rate when water addition was delayed between 1 and 16 h. …