2023-09-14 19:50:50
Although farmed fish make up a large part of our diet, few people know how these fish are farmed, and even fewer know how their well-being is measured. According to the latest data, Spaniards consume an average amount of 9.6 kg of fresh fish per person per year (around half comes from aquaculture, the other half is from extractive fishing). This figure is not far from our consumption of fresh pork (10.9 kg), but we know much less about fish.
It is partly because of this lack of knowledge that aquaculture production companies have made an effort to develop quality brands, such as Breeding our seas to explain the production systems and what species are grown in Spain. These are mainly trout in freshwater, and bream, sea bass and turbot in saltwater.
In recent years, scientists in Spain and Portugal are developing good practice guides and certifications related to the welfare of aquacultured fish. For example, him Fish Ethology and Welfare Group, an association based in Portugal, has been working for several years in many areas of well-being in the aquaculture sector. In their approach, they apply solid training in aquaculture and ethology to address the well-being of fish. To do this, they use the most advanced knowledge about the behavior of a species to understand how its well-being is affected in breeding conditions and what we can do to improve or promote it.
Recently they have published a reportin response to a request from Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC)on the integration of scientific knowledge and existing technical solutions, as well as proposals for the future of the sector, with a view to improving the well-being of farmed fish and, therefore, their production.
Along these lines, and in collaboration with some authors of this article, the Aquaculture Business Association of Spain (APROMAR) has promoted the publication of a Wellness Guide of fish in Spanish aquaculture, and is working on future good practice guides by species, starting with sea bream and sea bass, where various companies, associations and institutions collaborate.
At the national and international level, different associations, such as Aquaculture Stewarship Council y Friends of the Sea have developed animal welfare certifications for fish. Non-governmental organizations such as Compassion in World Farming y Fish Welfare Iniciative They have also developed fish welfare recommendations for aquaculturists.
On a social and scientific level we are witnessing a paradigm shift in how we appreciate the life of fish. A little more than 15 years ago we discovered that fish are able to perceive pain (have nociceptors), and in the last 10 years legislative changes have been demanded in Europe to help protect the fish we produce.
Although there are European directives that specify how the welfare of pigs, for example, should be considered, there is very little on fish. For this reason, the European Commission is reviewing the laws on the matterincluding fish.
Meanwhile, several associations, certification companies and NGOs are developing their own certifications, providing models or checklists to certify well-being in, for example, salmon y trout.
What is verified with these guides?
To know and evaluate the state of well-being of fish in aquaculture, various methodologies can be applied. On the one hand, we can observe the external appearance of the fish. Those subjected to stress conditions caused by poor captive conditions (lack of space, poor water quality) or by inadequate routine operations (during handling, transportation, feeding), will present clear signs on their body.
Among these signs (or indicators) we can highlight the condition of the skin or fins, which could present wounds or infections, affecting their integrity. Likewise, if the fish do not grow adequately or the mortality levels are high, the living conditions are not adequate.
On the other hand, we can use behavior as a good indicator of how the fish is doing. Thus, those who may be suffering alterations in their well-being will not show natural behavior. That is, if the fish do not have an appetite, they are not very active or aggressive, or they do not use all the space they have available, these are clear indications that their well-being is being altered. The environment in which fish live is essential to ensure their quality of life.
In this sense, the physical-chemical characteristics of the water (temperature, salinity, pH, etc.) must be the most optimal, taking into account the biological characteristics and needs of each species. Likewise, lighting conditions, environmental noise and the presence of predators are important aspects to take into account to manage and ensure the well-being of fish in aquaculture.
Increasing well-being improves quality
All these indicators (external, behavioral and environmental) are relatively easy to measure and quantify by applying an appropriate methodology for each species and life phase, adapting to the different existing production methods. Furthermore, all these guides and recommendations highlight the need to develop good practices that can be applied in companies, as well as the importance of appropriate training for personnel who work directly and indirectly with fish in aquaculture.
Finally, once scientifically validated, these indicators can also be translated into standards that fish farmers can apply and that external auditors can measure. Certification labels therefore have the potential to drive change in fish welfare by incorporating welfare science into their standards.
The well-being of fish in aquaculture is, without a doubt, a common objective of scientists and companies. Knowing the capabilities of the aquatic animals we eat and creating better conditions for their lives is a challenge for all concerned, but the results will undoubtedly translate into better product quality and better yields, all starting and ending in a better life for fish. They are not missing data which demonstrate that improvements in fish welfare are reflected in better product quality.
#welfare #aquacultured #fish #certified