Growth and survival of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Llyn Dwythwch, North Wales

SUMMARY. Atlantic salmon fry have been annually stocked into Llyn Dwythwch, North Wales, since 1969, in an attempt to increase the natural stocks of the area. The growth and survival of 1‐ and 2‐year‐old salmon were investigated, and compared with that of other lake‐reared populations and also with salmon in the natural stream environment. Lake‐reared salmon follow the same patterns of slow and rapid growth as found for river fish, but the growth rate was superior in the former. The variation in length – weight relationship with age and sex was investigated. Survival rates in general compared favourably with the survival in rivers, with high mortality rates of salmon in Llyn Dwythwch resulting from predation at spring stocking by the resident brown trout. This was later avoided by stocking larger fish in the autumn.