Comparison of fin ray sampling methods on white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus growth and swimming performance

Effects of two fin‐ray sampling methods on swimming performance, growth and survival were evaluated for hatchery‐reared sub‐adult white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus. Fish were subjected to either a notch removal treatment in which a small section was removed from an anterior marginal pectoral‐fin ray, or a full removal treatment in which an entire marginal pectoral‐fin ray was removed. Control fish did not have fin rays removed, but they were subjected to a sham operation. A modified 3230 l Brett‐type swim tunnel was used to evaluate 10 min critical station‐holding speeds (S_CSH) of A. transmontanus, immediately after the fin ray biopsies were obtained with each method. Survival and growth were evaluated over a 6 month period for a separate group of fish subjected to the same biopsy methods. Mean ± s.e . 10 min S_CSH were 108·0 ± 2·3, 110·0 ± 2·6 and 115·0 ± 3·5 cm s^?1 for the notch removal group, full removal group and control group, respectively, and were not significantly different among treatments. Behavioural characteristics including tail‐beat frequency and time spent hunkering were also not significantly different among treatment groups swimming at the same speeds. There were no mortalities and relative growth was similar among treatment groups. Average biopsy time for the notch removal method was lower and the wounds appeared to heal more quickly compared with the full removal method.