Behavioural response of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) to artificial underwater lights: Wavelet analysis of acoustic telemetry data

Biological, environmental, economic and ethical issues become increasingly pertinent as the scale of the aquaculture industry expands. This study used acoustic telemetry data and wavelet analysis to investigate behavioural patterns of Atlantic salmon when exposed to artificial underwater lights in fully stocked production cages located on the Norwegian coast. Using acoustic depth sensor tags, time series of depth registrations were gathered from 21 individual salmon distributed over three cages during a five-month experimental period. Underwater lights, normally used to suppress pre-harvest sexual maturation amongst Atlantic salmon, were installed at eight-metre depth and switched on in the middle of the experimental period. Swimming depth registrations initially showed a typical diurnal swimming behaviour, manifested by registrations generally in deeper waters during day-time than during night-time. The diurnal swimming behaviour abruptly ceased after the onset of lights. The change in swimming behaviour was detected by wavelet analysis and coincided with the introduction of underwater lights. Results from this study demonstrate the utility of wavelet analysis as a timely surveillance tool when investigating behavioural patterns of a periodic nature in fish, and specifically the individual response of farmed salmon to artificial lighting in a genuine industrial setting. •Atlantic salmon display strong diurnal depth profiles over the winter months.•Underwater light regimes reveal instant changes in diurnal cycles.•Wavelet analysis detected abrupt changes in behaviour from normal depth behaviour.•Wavelet analysis paired with acoustic telemetry tags as a surveillance tool for fish behaviour.