Until recently fisheries biologists have seen the adipose fin as largely superfluous, and have clipped it to visually distinguish planted fish from their wild cousins.
Now they’re not so sure.
Recent studies suggest the adipose fin is crucial to fish, aiding it in navigating turbulent water.
With the tiny fin removed, he says the fish need to use much more energy to maintain position and speed in the water.
– via CBC News Canada
Given that the practice is especially prevalent with salmonids, which re-enter fresh water when it is most turbulent, it may have been one of many reasons why hatchery fish have never adequately replaced indigenous populations.
Makes you wonder whether we’ve been our own worst enemy, accidentally even.
One would think that, if the adipose fin wasn’t important, it wouldn’t have been put there in the first place. Humans do get stuck on stupid some times.
Mark
Dr. Mengele once again raises his head as a state fish biologist and sportfishermen shudder.
So is it a good thing — planted fish are less competitive — or a bad thing — fish don’t holdover? I guess it depends on the fishery.
This is totally unrelated but I know you said the posts will be a little thin for a while but this is no good. This blog has become an addiction, my coffee doesn’t taste the same, the cigarettes don’t burn as well, the entire day feels empty and meaningless (ok a bit much I know)but with the few blogs out there worth reading, when one is off they all seem off. I know I should be fishing or tying or something productive. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again i have to get out of Ohio!
You were supposed to be excited at the lack of posts – given my travel schedule. With me gone those fishing magazines are twice as believable…
Well, add the adipose fin to a list of things scientists have said are vestigial, evolutionary leftovers, like the appendix etc., only to find that they are crucial to the health or survival of the creature possessing it. Not trying to push an agenda here, but it seems like every time we learn something new, we learn how much we didn’t know.
Maybe the adipose fin needs a new name. I suggest a modern one, like the Turbulence Tamer, something you could sell on a late night infomercial.
Apparently these scientist have never seen the great video work of ‘Ozzie’Ozefovich. The adipose serves a purpose, not only reduces drag, much like an vortex generator on airplane wings. The secret to minimum drag is to keep the boundary layer(less than 1 mm) attached to the skin as long as possible, the adipose fin re-energizes this boundary layer. Without the adipose, turbulence causes the dorsal and tail to loose effeciency.
Tight Lines~
Thanks for the explanation Brian