This study evaluated pre-slaughter stress and its influence on the stress indicators, quality characteristics and sensory characteristics of Nile tilapia fillets. To this end, two experiments were conducted: (1) two transportation times (60 and 240 min), with a density of 200 kg m-3 , were compared to control treatment fish (in which the fish were removed from the net cage and immediately euthanized); and (2) two transportation densities (100 and 400 kg m-3), transported for 180 min, compared with control treatment fish. In experiment 1, the transportation time of 60 min resulted in higher levels of serum cortisol and plasma glucose compared to the transportation time of 240 min and the control. Fish fillets transported for 240 min had higher water-holding capacity, less water loss by pressure and higher levels of juiciness compared to fish transported for 60 min. Color, pH and water loss during cooking were not affected by transportation time. In experiment 2, transportation densities of 100 and 400 kg m-3 did not significantly affect the stress indicators nor the instrumental quality parameters of the fillets, but fish transported at 400 kg m-3 showed better visual acceptance by panellists.

The experiment was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Brazilian College of Animal Experimentation (CDBEA) and was duly approved by the Ethics Commission on Animal Use (CEUA) of the State University of Maringa, Brazil (CEUA Protocol number 2378110815, November 2015).

We evaluated the effect of the length of stay out of water on stress, gene expression, pH variation, blood parameters, histological analysis and water holding capacity (WHC) in fillets of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultivated in net-tanks. For this purpose, the fishes were maintained out of water under different periods of anoxia. Three and 6 min of anoxia in the pre-slaughter period increased the blood levels and mRNA expression of heat shock protein 70 the Nile tilapia and produced fillets with a less firm texture (greater sarcomere length). The evaluated periods of anoxia did not markedly affect pH and WHC. These results demonstrate that a pre-slaughter period of acute stress of up to 6 min does not considerably affect the quality of meat. The fillets of fish slaughtered in the early evening had a higher WHC and lower plasma glucose level than those slaughtered at the other time periods (morning and afternoon).Practical Application: Fish slaughter in the early evening produced fillets with greater WHC and lower plasma glucose.