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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Leetown, West Virginia » Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399967
Research Project: Support the Viability and Expansion of Land-Based Closed-Containment Aquaculture

Location: Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research

Title: Assessing the toxicity of peracetic acid to parr, smolt, and post-smolt Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in RAS water

Author
item REDMAN, NATALIE - Freshwater Institute
item Straus, David
item MURRAY, MEGAN - Freshwater Institute
item GOOD, CHRISTOPHER - Freshwater Institute

Submitted to: Aquaculture Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2024
Publication Date: 1/23/2025
Citation: Redman, N., Straus, D.L., Murray, M., Good, C. 2025. Assessing the toxicity of peracetic acid to parr, smolt, and post-smolt Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in RAS water. Aquaculture Research. 2025(1). Article e934217. https://doi.org/10.1155/are/9934217.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/are/9934217

Interpretive Summary: Harmful freshwater fungus and bacteria pose a significant threat to Atlantic salmon reared in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems. Due to the risk associated with these pathogens, there exists need for a low-cost, safe, and effective disinfectant that can be used in systems where fish are present. Before assessing the application of a new disinfectant, it is important first to investigate the chemical's toxicity to the fish that inhabit the recirculating aquaculture systems. The toxicity of peracetic acid (PAA) has been assessed for early juvenile life-stages in Atlantic salmon; however, its toxicity to late juvenile life-stages has yet to be investigated. In this research, the 24-hour LC50 value of PAA (the concentration of PAA at which approximately 50% mortality occurs within 24-hours post treatment) was determined for three late juvenile life-stages of Atlantic salmon (parr (47g), smolt (66.5g), and post-smolt (176.7g)). The 24-hour LC50 values calculated during this research provide guidance for developing safe PAA treatment protocols for Atlantic salmon parr, smolt, and post-smolt in recirculating aquaculture systems. These findings can also support the development of PAA as a disinfectant in the Atlantic salmon RAS industry.

Technical Abstract: The risk associated with the presence of bacterial and fungal pathogens in recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) has resulted in an industry-wide need for low-cost, safe, and effective disinfectants. The toxicity of peracetic acid (PAA) to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) eggs, fry, and fingerlings (~16.3 g) in freshwater RAS water has been previously assessed; however, its toxicity to later juvenile life-stages was yet to be investigated. The 24-h LC50 value of PAA was determined for parr (mean = 47 g), smolt (mean = 66.5 g), and post-smolt (mean = 176.7 g) Atlantic salmon in RAS water static PAA treatments. The 24-h LC50 values were calculated using the trimmed Spearman–Karber (TSK) method and toxicity relationship analysis program (TRAP). TRAP LC50 values for parr, smolt, and post-smolt were 4.26, 4.27, and 4.78 mg/L PAA, respectively, while TSK LC50 values for parr, smolt, and post-smolt were 4.27, 3.94, and 4.65 mg/L PAA, respectively. These 24-h LC50 values provide novel guidance for developing safe PAA treatment protocols for Atlantic salmon parr, smolt, and post-smolt in freshwater RAS, although the influence of varying water quality scenarios needs to be considered.