Influence of Water Hardness and Salts on Survival and Physiological Characteristics of Striped Bass during and after Transport

Physiological characteristics and survival of striped bass Morone saxatilis were evaluated during, and for 1 month after, transportation from a soft-water hatchery (hardness, 28 mg/ L) to a hard-water hatchery (hardness, 110 mg/L). Fish were transported and allowed to recover in either 1.0% sodium chloride, 0.1 % calcium chloride, or fresh water. The addition of 1.0% sodium chloride to the transportation and recovery waters increased survival, decreased the rise in plasma cortisol and plasma glucose concentrations, and reduced osmoregulatory dysfunction. The addition of 0.1% calcium chloride to the transport and recovery media or the use of fresh water did not significantly reduce the stress response of striped bass during and after transport. Striped bass had significantly better survival and lower stress response when transported and allowed to recover in 1.0% sodium chloride than when treated in fresh water or 0.1 % calcium chloride, which is generally used in soft-water hatcheries to increase...