Broodstock
The salmon farming cycle begins with the Broodstock: the adult spawning salmon that provides the eggs and milt for the next generation. Broodstock play a vital role in the success of the next generation of farmed salmon and are an important part of any farming operation.
Each fall/winter the milt and eggs are collected from the spawning salmon at our Broodstock site. The eggs from each female are kept separate and mixed with the milt of one male for fertilization. Parent fish undergo extensive tests for disease screening and the eggs undergo disinfection to ensure that pathogens are not carried to the next generation.
Incubation
Following disinfection upon arrival at the hatchery, each egg batch is incubated separately in Heath trays. The eggs will be incubated for approximately 5-6 weeks until they reach the eyed stage and will hatch after a total of approximately 9 weeks. Upon hatch, the alevins or sac fry will continue to develop using the nutrients in their yolk sacs. When their yolk sacs are almost consumed, the young fry are ready to feed.
To learn more about harvesting and processing of farmed salmon, click here.