Use of a Floating Pump to Collect and Transfer Live Zooplankton as Food for Percid Larvae Reared in Net Cages

Abstract

Abstract A system for transfering live natural zooplankton to net cages containing percid larvae is described. The construction of this system is based on a net cage system routinely used for coregonid larvae. The pump transferred zooplankton in proportion to zooplankton density in a lake and can be adjusted depending on fish size and stocking density. A floating pump transferred up to 55% of available zooplankton to a rearing cage. The percentage of zooplankton groups in the control cage and in the pumping water was similar. Zooplanktonic organisms were not damaged by the pump.