Environmental enrichment and fish welfare

Villarroel, Morris; Bravo, Fernando Torrent; Vázquez, Jesús de la Fuente; Marcos, Concepción Pérez; Chavarri, Elisabet González de

doi:10.5565/rev/da.458

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…However, a combination of structural enrichment and water‐flow is important for fish habitat preference and, therefore, the potential effects of multiple factors simultaneously deserve further attention 227 . Villaroel et al 228 found no evidence of positive effects of water‐induced exercise on growth performance of rainbow trout. However, exercised fish presented a better adaptation to acute stress.…”

Section: Environmental Enrichment Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental enrichment in fish aquaculture: A review of fundamental and practical aspects

Arechavala-López

Cabrera-Álvarez

Maia

et al. 2021

Reviews in Aquaculture

103

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Environmental enrichment (EE) can improve the welfare of captive fish. Its objective is to provide new sensorial and motor stimulation in order to help meet their behavioural, physiological, morphological and psychological needs, whilst reducing stress and frequency of abnormal behaviours. In fish farms, rearing environments are usually designed from a human perspective and based on economic requirements, mainly for practical reasons for the farmer, with little consideration for animal welfare. Throughout aquaculture production cycles, many farming operations can be stressful for fish, and EE may not only help them cope with these stressful events but also improve their overall welfare. In recent years, increasing interest on the effects of EE in captive fish has focussed mainly on structural enrichment. However, there are many other enrichment strategies that merit attention (e.g. sensorial, occupational, social and dietary enrichment) and which may be of interest for fish farming. Here, we review in depth the existing literature on EE and its effects on the welfare of a wide range of farmed fish species, discussing the feasibility and potential applications of different EE strategies to promote fish welfare at a commercial scale. We also present a practical framework to address the design, validation and implementation of EE by the aquaculture industry, taking in consideration the technical challenges of providing enrichment for farmed fish.

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Section: Environmental Enrichment Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental enrichment in fish aquaculture: A review of fundamental and practical aspects

Arechavala-López

Cabrera-Álvarez

Maia

et al. 2021

Reviews in Aquaculture

103

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“…Depending on the type of OE, it can circumvent the use of physical structures while providing new stimuli in the environment, as described by Villarroel and co-workers. 9,10 To our knowledge, there are not many articles that have analysed the effect of EE on fillet quality, and the existing ones are based on nutritional enrichment, akin to that described by Rodríguez and Rojas. 11 In contrast, there are studies on the effect of OE on growth rate, 12 survival rates, 13 or stress and aggression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Few of the enrichment types studies so far have been adopted on a commercial level, partly since the introduction of structures in tanks increases workloads (to clean and disinfect new elements), requires monitoring, and can lead to fouling. Depending on the type of OE, it can circumvent the use of physical structures while providing new stimuli in the environment, as described by Villarroel and co‐workers 9,10 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental enrichment improves growth and fillet quality in rainbow trout

De la Llave‐Propín,

Martínez Villalba,

Villarroel

et al. 2024

J Sci Food Agric

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BACKGROUNDSome environmental enrichment (EE) methods, such as occupational enrichment (OE), can improve fish growth, but little is known about its effects on fillet quality. In this study, we evaluated the effects of OE using underwater currents, on different aspects of fillet quality and muscle metabolism in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), before and after a handling procedure (fasting). The trout were placed in groups of 30 in separate tanks in three treatments for 30 days: no artificial currents (CON), randomly fired underwater currents (RFC), and continuous underwater currents (CUC). Additionally, half of the individuals in each treatment were fasted (5 days, 45.2 °C days).RESULTSSlaughter weight, condition factor and relative growth were lower in CON fish, indicating a positive effect of OE on growth. Rigor mortis, muscle pH and muscle glycogen levels were similar among treatments, indicating no effect of OE on classical measures of fillet quality. However, significant differences were found regarding fillet colour and muscle enzymes. The fillets of RFC fish were more salmon‐pink in colour, which is favoured by consumers. Also, activity levels of pyruvate kinase and glycogen phosphorylase in muscle were significantly higher in CUC fish, probably due to increased energy demands as pumps were on continually in that treatment.CONCLUSIONOverall, RFC fish seemed to have received enough stimulation to improve growth while not being excessive in terms of exhausting the animals (avoiding negative effects on muscle metabolism), while OE may have provided a hormetic effect, allowing fish to better adjust to of fasting.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Environmental enrichment and fish welfare

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

Environmental enrichment in fish aquaculture: A review of fundamental and practical aspects

Environmental enrichment in fish aquaculture: A review of fundamental and practical aspects

Environmental enrichment improves growth and fillet quality in rainbow trout

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