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Animals
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Fish Welfare Assessment: Challenges for Aquaculture and Research
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Fish Welfare Assessment: Challenges for Aquaculture and Research

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 13702

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Constanze Pietsch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hochschule für Agrar-, Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften (HAFL), Applied University Berne (BFH), 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
Interests: fish; toxins; feed additives; nutrition; fish welfare; fish behaviour
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Aquaculture is unquestionable a globally growing industry in which new developments can be observed at many levels. Increasing numbers of fish are being farmed, and more fish are being used for scientific experiments. While technical progress has been made in fish husbandry, our understanding of the biological needs of the fish themselves has not advanced at the same rate. Fish welfare is a subject that has recently gained attention. An animal experiences good welfare if its behavioural and physiological abilities to cope with stressors are not surpassed. The complexity of factors that influence the well-being of individual animals means that revealing clear causal relationships is an enormous task. What makes the generalization of guidelines for optimal fish welfare also difficult is the fact that the environmental requirements of fish vary tremendously between species, strains and individuals. Consequently, assessing fish welfare requires the identification of a relevant set of environmental and biological variables for each individual species or population.

The development of markers for good fish welfare is nevertheless an important task since good welfare of fish in aquaculture clearly leads to better feed conversion and growth of the animals, higher immunocompetence, less disease, and finally less mortality in fish farming. Despite these obvious advantages, research on the welfare of farmed fish still needs to be increased considerably in the next few years in order to yield enough reliable data on optimal fish welfare and suitable detection methods. It is noteworthy that fish are not only used for farming purposes. Research on popular research models such as zebrafish is increasingly important in order to test the modes of action of future pharmaceuticals and to understand fundamental cellular processes in vertebrates. However, the fact that good welfare of experimental fish also results in better study results and minimizes the number of animals that have to be used for animal experiments is still not widely respected. Future research is needed to provide broader proofs of these concepts and the advantages of good fish welfare in many respects.

Dr. Constanze Pietsch
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fish welfare
  • health
  • behaviour
  • aquaculture

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1351 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) Welfare in the Semi-Intensive and Intensive Culture Systems in Thailand
by Tuchakorn Lertwanakarn, Thitima Purimayata, Thnapol Luengyosluechakul, Pau Badia Grimalt, Ana Silvia Pedrazzani, Murilo Henrique Quintiliano and Win Surachetpong
Animals 2023, 13(15), 2498; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152498 - 02 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1553
Abstract
Welfare assessments have risen to prominence in the aquaculture industry, with increasing awareness of their significance among stakeholders in Thailand. In this study, we conducted a welfare assessment of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) farms in Thailand, focusing on health, environmental, behavioural, and nutritional [...] Read more.
Welfare assessments have risen to prominence in the aquaculture industry, with increasing awareness of their significance among stakeholders in Thailand. In this study, we conducted a welfare assessment of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) farms in Thailand, focusing on health, environmental, behavioural, and nutritional indicators. Comparing semi-intensive (earthen ponds) and intensive farming practices (cage culture), we found significant differences in the overall health score, particularly at farm F due to a disease outbreak (Kruskal–Wallis, p = 0.01). Skin and fin scores varied across farms, indicating their potential as indicators of tilapia health. Environmental assessments revealed differences in transparency between the two culturing systems (Mann–Whitney, p = 0.02). During the harvesting process, tilapia behaviours indicated poor welfare across all farms. However, no statistically significant difference in overall welfare scores was found between the two culturing systems. Correlations were observed between nutritional, environmental, and health indicators, with negative correlations between fish density and water transparency (r = −0.87, p = 0.02), presence of inhabitants (r = −0.78, p = 0.04), feeding behaviours (r = −0.78, p = 0.04), and swimming behaviours during capture (r = −0.98, p = 0.001). These findings provide valuable insights to enhance tilapia-farming practices and welfare in Thailand. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Welfare Assessment: Challenges for Aquaculture and Research)
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18 pages, 3130 KiB  
Article
Assessing Chronodisruption Distress in Goldfish: The Importance of Multimodal Approaches
by Nuria Saiz, Lisbeth Herrera-Castillo, Nuria de Pedro, María Jesús Delgado, Sven David Arvidsson, Miguel Ángel Marugal-López and Esther Isorna
Animals 2023, 13(15), 2481; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152481 - 01 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1100
Abstract
Chronodisruption caused by factors such as light at night and mistimed meals has been linked to numerous physiological alterations in vertebrates and may be an anxiogenic factor affecting welfare. This study aims to investigate whether chronodisruption causes measurable changes in the anxiety responses [...] Read more.
Chronodisruption caused by factors such as light at night and mistimed meals has been linked to numerous physiological alterations in vertebrates and may be an anxiogenic factor affecting welfare. This study aims to investigate whether chronodisruption causes measurable changes in the anxiety responses of goldfish under two conditions: randomly scheduled feeding (RF) and continuous light (LL). Anxiety-like behavior was assessed in the open field with object approach and black/white preference tests, which had been validated using diazepam. An increased thigmotaxis response and decreased object exploration under both chronodisruption protocols indicated anxiety states. Furthermore, locomotor activity was increased in LL fish. The black/white preference test discriminated anxiolysis induced by diazepam but was unable to detect anxiety caused by chronodisruption. Plasma cortisol increased in both RF and LL fish throughout the experiment, confirming that both conditions caused stress. The LL fish also showed an apparently desensitized hypothalamus–pituitary–interrenal HPI axis, with a decrease in pomc and crf expression. Individual analysis found no correlation between anxiety-like behavior and stress axis activation nor between scototaxis and thigmotaxis responses. However, individual differences in sensitivity to each test were detected. Altogether, these results highlight circadian disruption as a stressor for fish and endorse a multiple variable approach for reliably assessing animal discomfort. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Welfare Assessment: Challenges for Aquaculture and Research)
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27 pages, 10311 KiB  
Article
Distinguishing the Effects of Water Volumes versus Stocking Densities on the Skeletal Quality during the Pre-Ongrowing Phase of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata)
by Zachary Dellacqua, Claudia Di Biagio, Corrado Costa, Pedro Pousão-Ferreira, Laura Ribeiro, Marisa Barata, Paulo J. Gavaia, Francesco Mattei, Andrea Fabris, Marisol Izquierdo and Clara Boglione
Animals 2023, 13(4), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040557 - 05 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1700
Abstract
Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) production is a highly valued aquaculture industry in Europe. The presence of skeletal deformities in farmed gilthead seabream represents a major bottleneck for the industry leading to economic losses, negative impacts on the consumers’ perception of aquaculture, [...] Read more.
Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) production is a highly valued aquaculture industry in Europe. The presence of skeletal deformities in farmed gilthead seabream represents a major bottleneck for the industry leading to economic losses, negative impacts on the consumers’ perception of aquaculture, and animal welfare issues for the fish. Although past work has primarily focused on the hatchery phase to reduce the incidence of skeletal anomalies, this work targets the successive pre-ongrowing phase in which more severe anomalies affecting the external shape often arise. This work aimed to test the effects of: (i) larger and smaller tank volumes, stocked at the same density; and (ii) higher and lower stocking densities maintained in the same water volume, on the skeleton of gilthead seabream fingerlings reared for ~63 days at a pilot scale. Experimental rearing was conducted with gilthead seabream juveniles (~6.7 ± 2.5 g), which were selected as ‘non-deformed’ based on external inspection, stocked at three different densities (Low Density (LD): 5 kg/m3; Medium Density (MD): 10 kg/m3; High Density (HD): 20 kg/m3) in both 500 L and 1000 L tanks. Gilthead seabream were sampled for growth performance and radiographed to assess the skeletal elements at the beginning and end of the experimental trial. Results revealed that (i) LD fish were significantly longer than HD fish, although there were no differences in final weights, regardless of the water volume; (ii) an increase in the prevalence of seabream exhibiting cranial and vertebral axis anomalies was found to be associated with increased density. These results suggest that farmers can significantly reduce the presence of some cranial and axis anomalies affecting pre-ongrown gilthead seabream by reducing the stocking density. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Welfare Assessment: Challenges for Aquaculture and Research)
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16 pages, 2358 KiB  
Article
Economic Improvement of Artisanal Fishing by Studying the Survival of Discarded Plectorhinchus mediterraneus
by Ignacio Ruiz-Jarabo, Blanca Partida, María Page, Diego Madera, Nuria Saiz, Aitana Alonso-Gómez, Lisbeth Herrera-Castillo, Esther Isorna, Ángel L. Alonso-Gómez, Ana I. Valenciano, Nuria de Pedro, Jorge Saez and Maria J. Delgado
Animals 2022, 12(23), 3423; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233423 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1267
Abstract
Europe calls for the end to fisheries discards, which means bringing all caught fish (subject to minimum sizes or quotas) to land. This decision is beneficial to the ecosystem, since it forces the selectivity of the fishing gears to improve. However, artisanal fishermen [...] Read more.
Europe calls for the end to fisheries discards, which means bringing all caught fish (subject to minimum sizes or quotas) to land. This decision is beneficial to the ecosystem, since it forces the selectivity of the fishing gears to improve. However, artisanal fishermen find themselves in a vulnerable situation where their subsistence depends on catches with small profit margins. An exemption to this landing obligation exists, as it is also ruled that those animals whose survival is scientifically guaranteed may be returned to the sea. Here we study the survival of Plectorhinchus mediterraneus captured by hookline and gillnet, as well as their physiological recovery. Survival exceeds 93% in both cases. The physiological assessment of primary (cortisol) and secondary (energy mobilization, acid-base and hydromineral balance, and immune system) stress responses indicates that surviving animals are able to recover after fishing. Thus, we propose the optimal size of capture of this species to achieve greater economic benefit. For this, we rely on the prices according to size in recent years, as well as on the growth curves of the species. In this way, by releasing fish of less than 1 kg, the current benefits could be multiplied between 2.3 and 9.6 times. This pilot study lays the groundwork for regulating artisanal fisheries through scientific data related to survival of discards along with information on the sale prices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Welfare Assessment: Challenges for Aquaculture and Research)
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13 pages, 1349 KiB  
Article
Effects of Eugenol on Water Quality and the Metabolism and Antioxidant Capacity of Juvenile Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) under Simulated Transport Conditions
by Yuhang He, Zhengyi Fu, Shiming Dai, Gang Yu, Yunfeng Guo and Zhenhua Ma
Animals 2022, 12(20), 2880; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202880 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1713
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of added eugenol on water quality and the metabolism and antioxidant capacity of the liver and gills of the greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) during simulated transport. The juvenile fish (10.34 ± 1.33 g) were transported in [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of added eugenol on water quality and the metabolism and antioxidant capacity of the liver and gills of the greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) during simulated transport. The juvenile fish (10.34 ± 1.33 g) were transported in sealed plastic bags containing different eugenol concentrations at a density of 24.79 kg/m3 for 8 h. The different eugenol concentrations were divided into five groups: 0 μL/mL (control group), 0.0125 μL/mL, 0.025 μL/mL, 0.0375 μL/mL, and 0.05 μL/mL, with three replicates of each. The results showed that 0.05 μL/mL of eugenol could significantly increase dissolved oxygen, but 0.025 μL/mL–0.0375 μL/mL resulted in a significant decrease in dissolved oxygen and significant increases in NH4+-N and NO2−-N. It was found that 0.05 μL/mL of eugenol caused significant up-regulation of the relative expression of CPT-1 in the liver, significant down-regulation of the relative expression of FAS and PK in the liver and gills, a significant increase in glycogen concentration, and a significant decrease in glucose concentration. This suggests that 0.05 μL/mL of eugenol could reduce the metabolic capacity of fish. In addition, 0.05 μL/mL of eugenol caused significant up-regulation of the relative expression of CAT and a significant decrease of MDA concentration in the liver. Meanwhile, the gills showed significant up-regulation of CAT relative expression, significant down-regulation of Keap1 relative expression, and a significant increase in GSH activity, resulting in a significant increase in MDA concentration when the concentration of eugenol reached or exceeded 0.025 μL/mL. This suggests that 0.05 μL/mL eugenol could improve the antioxidant capacity of fish and lipid peroxidation levels in the gills. In conclusion, the addition of 0.05 μL/mL eugenol could improve water quality, and the metabolic and antioxidant capacities of liver and gills, but it could also increase lipid peroxidation levels in the gills under transport conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Welfare Assessment: Challenges for Aquaculture and Research)
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Review

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26 pages, 1567 KiB  
Review
Advanced Techniques for the Intelligent Diagnosis of Fish Diseases: A Review
by Daoliang Li, Xin Li, Qi Wang and Yinfeng Hao
Animals 2022, 12(21), 2938; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12212938 - 26 Oct 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5274
Abstract
Aquatic products, as essential sources of protein, have attracted considerable concern by producers and consumers. Precise fish disease prevention and treatment may provide not only healthy fish protein but also ecological and economic benefits. However, unlike intelligent two-dimensional diagnoses of plants and crops, [...] Read more.
Aquatic products, as essential sources of protein, have attracted considerable concern by producers and consumers. Precise fish disease prevention and treatment may provide not only healthy fish protein but also ecological and economic benefits. However, unlike intelligent two-dimensional diagnoses of plants and crops, one of the most serious challenges confronted in intelligent aquaculture diagnosis is its three-dimensional space. Expert systems have been applied to diagnose fish diseases in recent decades, allowing for restricted diagnosis of certain aquaculture. However, this method needs aquaculture professionals and specialists. In addition, diagnosis speed and efficiency are limited. Therefore, developing a new quick, automatic, and real-time diagnosis approach is very critical. The integration of image-processing and computer vision technology intelligently allows the diagnosis of fish diseases. This study comprehensively reviews image-processing technology and image-based fish disease detection methods, and analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of each diagnostic approach in different environments. Although it is widely acknowledged that there are many approaches for disease diagnosis and pathogen identification, some improvements in detection accuracy and speed are still needed. Constructing AR 3D images of fish diseases, standard and shared datasets, deep learning, and data fusion techniques will be helpful in improving the accuracy and speed of fish disease diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Welfare Assessment: Challenges for Aquaculture and Research)
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