Evidence of return of chum salmon released from Tangwang River by strontium marking method

In order to assess the effect of enhancement release of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), otolith strontium (Sr) marking method was used to tag chum salmon released in Tangwang River in 2016. The homing chum salmon were detected and the samples were collected in Tangwang River, Ussuri River and Suifen River in the autumn of 2018. The samples were analyzed by examining Sr and calcium (Ca) fingerprints in the otolith using electron probe microanalysis. The results suggested that two samples collected in Tangwang River had the marking ring near the core of otolith where the Sr concentration and Sr/Ca ratio were significantly higher than comparative samples. Proving that the two fish belonged to the released population in Tangwang River in 2016. This article indicated the success of the enhancement release of chum salmon from the Tangwang River for the first time and also confirmed the validity of Sr marking in enhancement release of fishes.