New WelfareCheck | farm: Micropterus salmoides: This freshwater Largemouth bass is essential for aquaculture in China. Besides aggregation density and reproduction needs that may be met under some circumstances, many other needs or features are not satisfied or speak against keeping it even in the high-standard conditions of today. Find out more. → read more
- 2024-04-18: Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth bass)
- 2024-03-12: Channa argus (Northern snakehead)
- 2024-01-25: Scomber colias (Atlantic chub mackerel)
- 2023-12-31: Perca fluviatilis (European perch)
- 2023-12-24: Esox lucius (Northern pike)
For us, behaviour is the most important indicator of the welfare state of an individual. By describing the behaviour of aquatic animals in the wild and in captivity, we aim to assess the species’ potential on the welfare continuum.
Because we rely on scientific sources, this gives us the reliable, valid, and objective basis for recommendations on how to avoid harm and how to improve welfare.
The goal is to bridge the gap between science and the stakeholders in the aquaculture and fisheries sector: producers, fishing people, certifiers, retailers, NGOs, policy makers, and consumers.
«A key welfare concern for all farmed aquaculture species is the extent to which their behavioural needs can be met in the environments provided by commercial systems. The fair-fish database provides a comprehensive database of references, and helpful, detailed and reliable information extracted from them, to the natural ethology and behavioural needs of a wide range of such species. This is invaluable in determining how welfare can be measured and improved and for identifying priorities for further welfare and ethological research. It also helps to assist evaluation of the suitability of species for farming systems.»
The fair-fish database is a project launched and managed by fair-fish, under cooperation with FishEthoGroup.
fair-fish is an NGO aiming at increasing welfare of aquatic animals in captivity and decreasing welfare hazards during catching, applying fair trade with fishermen and -women, and protecting the environment.
FishEthoGroup is a non-profit institution dedicated to research and improving the welfare of aquatic animals. Its role in the fair-fish database is to provide content for the species profiles as well as collaborating in the discussions on the development and structure of the database.