Methods for raising pre-adult anadromous fish
AssigneeMariCal, Inc.
InventorsH. William Harris, Jr., David R. Russell, Jacqueline Nearing, Marlies Betka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to methods, compositions and kits for improving the raising of pre-adult anadromous fish, or preparing pre-adult anadromous fish for transfer to seawater. The methods involve adding PVCR modulators (e.g., calcium and/or magnesium) to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR; and adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed comprises amounts of NaCl and an amino acid sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of the PVCR modulator in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish.
Claims49
A method of improving the raising of pre-adult anadromous fish, wherein the pre-adult anadromous fish are maintained in freshwater prior to transfer to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish.
A method of preparing pre-adult anadromous fish for transfer from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding calcium sufficient to bring the calcium concentration up to an amount between about 2.0 mM and about 10.0 mM to the freshwater;
- b) adding magnesium sufficient to bring the magnesium concentration up to an amount between about 0.5 mM and about 10.0 mM to the freshwater;
- and
- c) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains at least about 1% NaCl by weight and tryptophan in an amount between about 1 gm/kg and about 10 gm/kg.
A method of improving the raising of pre-adult salmon, wherein the pre-adult salmon are maintained in freshwater prior to transfer to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the salmon fish.
The method of claim 17, wherein the calcium is added to the freshwater sufficient to bring the calcium concentration up to an amount between about 2.0 mM and about 10.0 mM.
A method for preparing pre-adult salmon for transfer from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding calcium sufficient to bring the calcium concentration up to an amount between about 2.0 mM and about 10.0 mM to the freshwater;
- b) adding magnesium sufficient to bring the magnesium concentration up to an amount between about 0.5 mM and about 10.0 mM to the freshwater;
- and
- c) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains at least about 1% NaCl by weight and tryptophan in an amount between about 1 gm/kg and about 10 gm/kg.
A method of increasing the growth rate of one or more pre-adult anadromous fish, wherein the pre-adult anadromous fish are maintained in freshwater prior to transfer to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish.
A method of increasing food consumption of pre-adult anadromous fish, wherein the pre-adult anadromous fish are maintained in freshwater prior to transfer to seawater, comprising:
- a) subjecting the pre-adult anadromous fish to magnesium and calcium in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish.
A method of increasing food consumption of pre-adult anadromous fish after transfer to seawater, wherein the pre-adult anadromous fish are maintained in freshwater prior to transfer to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish;
- and
- c) transferring the pre-adult anadromous fish to seawater.
A method of increasing survival of pre-adult anadromous fish undergoing smoltification in freshwater, comprising:
- a) introducing the pre-adult anadromous fish to freshwater having magnesium and calcium in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains at least about 1% NaCl by weight and tryptophan in an amount between about 1 gm/kg and about 10 gm/kg;
- wherein the pre-adult anadromous fish are maintained in the freshwater sufficient to increase expression of at least one PVCR.
A method of preparing pre-adult anadromous parr for transfer from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous parr;
- and
- c) transferring the pre-adult anadromous parr to seawater.
A method for reducing osmotic stress upon transfer of pre-adult anadromous fish from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish;
- and
- c) transferring the pre-adult anadromous fish to seawater;
- wherein, once transferred to seawater, the pre-adult anadromous fish have increased growth and decreased stress, as compared to pre-adult anadromous fish that are not subjected to steps a) and b).
A method of reducing mortality of pre-adult anadromous fish upon transfer from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish;
- and
- c) transferring the pre-adult anadromous fish to seawater.
A method of improving feeding in pre-adult anadromous fish immediately after transfer from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish;
- and
- c) transferring the pre-adult anadromous fish to seawater.
A method of transferring a pre-adult anadromous fish from freshwater to seawater having a temperature of about 14° C. to about 19° C., comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish;
- and
- c) transferring the pre-adult anadromous fish to seawater.
A method of reducing an amount of time between generations of pre-adult anadromous fish, comprising:
- a) maintaining pre-adult anadromous fish in a freshwater environment having magnesium and calcium in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish.
A method of preparing pre-adult anadromous fish for transfer from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR in the brain of the pre-adult anadromous fish;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish.
A method of preparing pre-adult anadromous char for transfer from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous char.
A method of preparing pre-adult anadromous trout for transfer from freshwater to seawater, comprising:
- a) adding magnesium and calcium to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to increase expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR;
- and
- b) adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl and at least one PVCR modulator sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of calcium and/or magnesium in serum of the pre-adult anadromous trout.
A method of determining whether a pre-adult anadromous fish is ready for transfer to seawater, wherein the pre-adult anadromous fish is subjected to a freshwater environment having a concentration of calcium in an amount between about 2.0 mM and about 10.0 mM and a concentration of magnesium in an amount between about 0.5 mM and about 10.0 mM, and feed having at least about 1% NaCl by weight and tryptophan in an amount between about 1 gm/kg and about 10 gm/kg;
- said method comprising assessing the amount of PVCR expression in the pre-adult anadromous fish, wherein an increased level of expression, as compared to a control, indicates that the pre-adult anadromous fish is ready for transfer to seawater.
An aquatic food composition comprising a concentration of NaCl between about 10,000 mg/kg and about 100,000 mg/kg, and a concentration of tryptophan between about 1 gm/kg and about 10 gm/kg.
A kit for improving the raising of pre-adult anadromous fish, comprising:
- a) an aquatic mixture for providing an environment to improve the raising of pre-adult anadromous fish, wherein the aquatic mixture comprises:
- i) a calcium source that when added to freshwater, provides a concentration of between about 2.0 mM and about 10.0 mM;
- and
- ii) a magnesium source that when added to freshwater, provides a concentration of between about 0.5 mM and 10.0 mM;
- and
- b) an aquatic food composition containing a concentration of NaCl between about 10,000 mg/kg and about 100,000 mg/kg, and a concentration of tryptophan between about 1 gm/kg and about 10 gm/kg.
A kit for determining whether a pre-adult anadromous fish is ready for transfer to seawater, wherein the pre-adult anadromous fish is subjected to a freshwater environment having magnesium and calcium, and feed having at least about 1% NaCl by weight and tryptophan in an amount between about 1 gm/kg and about 10 gm/kg., said kit comprises an anti-PVCR antibody.
A kit for determining whether a pre-adult anadromous fish is ready for transfer to seawater, wherein the pre-adult anadromous fish is subjected to a freshwater environment having magnesium and calcium, and feed having at least about 1% NaCl by weight and tryptophan in an amount between about 1 gm/kg and about 10 gm/kg., said kit comprises a nucleic acid sequence having a detectable label that can hybridize to nucleic acid of an aquatic PVCR.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.