Bioenergetics estimate of the effects of stocking density on hatchery production of smallmouth bass fingerlings

Production of and consumption by hatchery-reared fingerling (age-0) smallmo uth bass Micropterus dolomieu at various simulated stocking densities were estimated with a bioenergetics model. Fish growth rates and pond water temp eratures during the 1996 growing season at two hatcheries in Oklahoma were used in the model. Fish growth and simulated consumption and production dif fered greatly between the two hatcheries, probably because of differences i n pond fertilization and mortality rates. Our results suggest that appropri ate stocking density depends largely on prey availability as affected by po nd fertilization and on fingerling mortality rates. The bioenergetics model provided a useful tool for estimating production at various stocking densi ty rates. However, verification of physiological parameters for age-0 fish of hatchery-reared species is needed.