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New paper out!
Can a simple, low-cost structural enrichment improve fish welfare without compromising production?
In our latest study, we investigated the effects of artificial water hyacinth as structural enrichment for juvenile Nile tilapia. We found that this simple addition to the rearing environment promoted positive behavioural responses while maintaining productive performance.
🔎 Key findings:
▪️ Artificial water hyacinth promoted foraging behaviour and reduced stereotypical behaviour, both relevant behavioural indicators of fish welfare.
▪️ This structural enrichment improved tilapia welfare without compromising growth or survival, under different stocking densities.
💡 Take-home message: Improving fish welfare does not necessarily require complex or expensive interventions. Simple structural enrichments, such as artificial water hyacinth, can provide opportunities for more species-appropriate behaviour while remaining compatible with productive goals.
> Read the full paper here.
(posted on 2026/08/19)
➜About us
FishEthoGroup is a team of motivated professionals focused on improving fish welfare based on their behaviours.
We develop scientific and applied actions to reach our goals by promoting research, helping to disseminate knowledge, giving consultancy, and training about fish welfare.
Want to know more about us? See information below.
Who we are
Who we are
We are a non-profit association bridging the gaps between science and the stakeholders in the aquaculture sector: producers, certifiers, retailers, NGOs, policy makers and consumers. Our goal is to study and improve the welfare of farmed fishes and other aquatic animals by applying ethological scientific knowledge into best practices in fish farming.
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What we stand for
What we stand for
Throughout the years, our team has been involved in many areas of the aquaculture sector, from scientific research to campaigning, from auditing to policy. We use that expertise to promote the welfare of fishes through many initiatives with our partners and collaborators.
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What we do
What we do
We develop science-based solutions to assess and improve the welfare of captive and wild-caught fishes. In our approach, we apply a strong background in aquaculture and ethology to address the welfare of fishes. We use state-of-the-art knowledge on the behaviour of a species to understand how its welfare is affected under farming conditions and what we can do to promote it.
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Contact
Partners and collaborations
Need help?
If you are interested in scientific and technical expertise applied to welfare in fish farming, please contact us.
We develop custom-made welfare solutions for your initiatives, as consultancy in farms or other facilities, tailored courses, guidance, certification requirements or systems, specific research studies and welfare protocols (see What we do).
Questions? Suggestions? Drop us a line!
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