News
>> Keynote Speaker Announcement
We are delighted to welcome Dr. José Ricardo Paula (MARE / Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal) as a keynote speaker at the XXII Congress of the Portuguese Ethological Society.
Dr. Paula's research focuses on the complexities of social interactions in marine ecosystems, particularly through the lens of cleaner fish — species known for their ecological role in removing parasites and dead tissue from client fish. His keynote, titled “The Behavioural Complexity of Cleaning Mutualisms”, will offer valuable insights into the cognitive and behavioural mechanisms underpinning these fascinating interactions.
📅 October 30–31, 2025
📍 Algarve University– Penha Campus, Faro, Portugal
> Organized by the SPE - Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), and FishEthoGroup
> Registration here
We look forward to an inspiring session on how behavioural biology connects individual actions with broader ecological patterns.
(posted on Aug. 25, 2025)
Speaker annoucement (SPE Congress)!
>> We are delighted to announce Professor Sandra Trigo (CIBIO/InBIO, University of Porto, Portugal) as a keynote speaker at the XXII Congress of the Portuguese Ethological Society.
Prof. Trigo’s research focuses on sexual selection signals and the mechanisms underlying the modulation of animal behaviour. Her keynote talk — “Sex Differences in Birds: Ornamentation, Behavior, and Physiological Responses” — will explore how evolutionary pressures shape traits and interactions in birds.
🗓️ October 30–31, 2025
📍 Algarve University – Penha Campus, Faro (Portugal)
> Organized by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia (SPE), Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), and FishEthoGroup.
> Registration here
(posted on Aug. 20, 2025)
New paper out!
> New publication!
Understanding the hedonic (pleasure) and motivational aspects of fish behaviour is essential for advancing aquatic research and welfare. A new study co-authored by our student Inês Cacela Rodrigues and our team member Joao L. Saraiva, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, provides the first evidence that the opioid system mediates the pleasure (‘liking’) of cleaner–client fish interactions.
💡 Using behavioral experiments with butterflyfish (client) and cleaner wrasse, the authors showed that de-parasitized client fish still prefer compartments associated with cleaners. Activation of μ-opioid receptors increased this preference, while blockade reduced it. Interestingly, motivation to reach cleaners (‘wanting’) was clearly shown too, but unaffected by opioid treatment, indicating that hedonic impact ('pleasure') and incentive salience (motivation) are distinct components in fish.
✔️ This work highlights the complexity of fish social interactions and the role of neurobiology in mutualistic behavior, providing new insights into how reward systems operate in aquatic animals.
> Read the full paper here
(posted on Aug. 15, 2025)
New podcast episode!
One of our core missions is to promote knowledge about fish and other aquatic species to support their welfare. We strongly believe that science communication is essential to achieving meaningful change.
💡 As part of this mission, we created Fish Five, an interview programme within our Fish Talk podcast. Each episode explores key topics in fish behaviour and welfare, guided by five insightful questions answered by leading experts in the field.
> We’re excited to share that our second episode is now live! This time, we welcome Professor Eliane Gonçalves de Freitas for a conversation on social interactions in fishes — a fascinating and important subject in aquatic welfare research.
> Listen now on Spotify here or visit our website to learn more here.
(posted on Aug. 12, 2025)
Prof Nicola Clayton talk at SPE Congress!
We are proud to announce that Professor Nicola Clayton (University of Cambridge, UK) will be a keynote speaker at the XXII Congress of the Portuguese Ethological Society, taking place on October 30–31, 2025, at the Algarve University in Faro, Portugal.
💡Prof. Clayton is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in comparative cognition, especially on episodic-like memory, mental time travel, and the intelligence of corvids. Her research bridges disciplines, offering powerful insights into animal minds and the evolution of cognition.
Her keynote, titled “Magic Mind”, will be one of the highlights of the programme.
📌 Organized by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia (SPE), Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), and the FishEthoGroup.
📍 Faro, Portugal – Penha Campus, Algarve University
🔗 Register here
(posted on Aug. 5, 2025)
New blog post!
Whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) is a bottom-grazing species found in muddy substrates along the Pacific coast. Its fast growth rate, high tolerance to changing water conditions, and ability to thrive in high stocking densities make it a valuable species for aquaculture.
💡 However, despite its potential, certain farming conditions can still cause stress to these animals. Understanding and addressing these welfare concerns is essential for ethical shrimp farming.
> Interested in learning more about the main welfare challenges facing whiteleg shrimp? Check out our latest blog post on ConsCIÊNCIA Animal here.
> Also, explore its WelfareCheck profile on the fair-fish database here.
(posted on July 31, 2025)
New paper out!
🔬 New publication alert!
We’re proud to share that our student Sónia Marina António Soares, together with María J. Cabrera-Álvarez, Pablo Arechavala-Lopez, and Joao L. Saraiva from our team, has co-authored a new paper published in the journal Aquaculture. The study used an integrative approach to evaluate different stunning and slaughter methods in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), with a focus on animal welfare and meat quality.
Key findings include:
• Slaughter in ice-slurry without prior stunning results in poor fish welfare and reduced meat quality.
• Electrical stunning followed by ice-slurry did not significantly reduce stress responses.
• In contrast, anaesthesia and ikejime methods showed lower stress levels and better meat quality — indicating they may be more humane and effective alternatives.
> This research highlights how solid scientific knowledge can drive practical improvements in aquaculture practices and animal welfare.📄 Read the full article here.
(posted on July 29, 2025)
📢 Call for Abstracts – Deadline Extended to July 25!
We’re excited to announce that the XXII Congress of the Portuguese Ethological Society has extended its deadline for abstract submissions to July 25, 2025. Whether you're a student, researcher, or professional in ethology, animal behaviour, or welfare — this is your chance to present your work and connect with peers in the field.
📍 Algarve University (Penha Campus), Faro – Portugal
🗓️ October 30–31, 2025
> Submit your abstract here
> Registration is open here
> Presenting authors must register.
Organized by SPE - Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), and FishEthoGroup.
(posted on July 21, 2025)
Final call for abstract submission!
> Final call — only 2 days left to submit your abstract for the XXII Congress of the Portuguese Ethological Society, taking place October 30–31, 2025, at Algarve University (Faro, Portugal).
We welcome abstracts for oral and poster presentations on animal behaviour and welfare, across aquatic and terrestrial species.
📅 Deadline: July 18
📨 Submit here
📝 Please note: presenting authors must be registered participants. Register here
The event is co-organized by the SPE - Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), and the FishEthoGroup.
> Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and share your research with the ethology community.
(posted on July 16, 2025)
New podcast episode in Portuguese!
> The Fish Mind is a programme of our podcast Fish Talk that is focused on the capacity of fishes to suffer, feel other affective states, and display great cognitive abilities. The idea is to present all this important information in an informal dialogue of a few minutes.
💡 Last week we released our second episode about positive affective states of fishes in Portuguese too. Did you know that, just like humans, fishes can be motivated to get what they want? And this kind of behaviour has been observed in different species and in response to various environmental resources. This podcast episode focuses on this topic and brings relevant scientific evidence about fish motivation responses.
> If you would like to listen to this new episode in Portuguese, please go to our Spotify page here or the podcast page on our website here.
(posted on July 15, 2025)
New paper out!
> We’re proud to share a new publication from our team in Aquaculture Reports!
Our student Esther Hoyo Alvarez, together with Pablo Arechavala-Lopez and María J. Cabrera-Álvarez from our team, co-authored a study investigating how pre-slaughter conditions — including fasting, crowding, and seasonal temperature — influence cardiac stress responses in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
💡 Main insights:
✔️ Fasting may improve slaughter efficiency in warmer months
✔️ However, crowding under high temperatures raises welfare concerns
✔️ Minimizing crowding and adjusting fasting protocols according to the season can benefit both welfare and efficiency.
> We believe that solid scientific knowledge is key to driving practical improvements in fish welfare. If you are interested to read the full article, access it here.
(posted on July 9, 2025)
Fish Motivation and Welfare: What Science Is Revealing
Over the years, scientific research has shown that fish can experience not only pain and other negative states but also positive affective states.
One important indicator of this are behavioural indicators of motivation — when fish put in effort to access something they value, it suggests the presence of positive internal states.
✔️ This type of response has been observed across different species and in relation to various environmental resources. Considering fish motivation when designing environments or assessing welfare can lead to more ethical and enriched aquaculture practices.
Check out the full infographic here to learn more.
(posted on July 8, 2025)
> Announcing the Invited Speakers at the XXII SPE Congress!
We are excited to welcome three internationally renowned speakers to the XXII Congress of the Portuguese Ethological Society, taking place this October in Faro.
🗓️ October 30–31, 2025
📍 Algarve University – Penha Campus
These research leaders will share diverse perspectives and groundbreaking work on animal behaviour and welfare — from evolutionary and ecological processes to applied approaches. This is a unique opportunity to connect with top minds in ethology, expand your network, and engage with current research in the field.
>> Full details here.
We look forward to seeing you there!
(posted on July 2, 2025)
New blog post!
>> Fish and Emotions: Time to Rethink Aquatic Welfare
💡 When we talk about animal welfare, we often focus on reducing negative states like pain and fear. But what about positive emotions? In the latest post from our "The Fish Mind" section on the ConsCIÊNCIA Animal blog, we explore a less discussed but essential topic: how fish experience not only suffering, but also positive affective states such as motivation responses.
🎓 Scientific evidence continues to grow: fish can feel pain, fear, anxiety — but also positive affective states. This changes how we think about their environments in captivity, care practices, and ethical treatment. Promoting positive welfare isn’t just a goal — it’s a responsibility grounded in science.
>>If you are interested, read our full post on the blog here.
(posted on June 30, 2025)
New Report: Humane Fish Slaughter Needs Urgent Attention
As aquaculture expands rapidly, so does the responsibility to ensure ethical practices — especially at slaughter.
🔬 A recent report we co-authored, "Blueprint for research to detect loss of consciousness and/or sensibility of fish at slaughter", highlights critical gaps in current methods.
Key findings:
• Methods like asphyxiation and live chilling cause prolonged suffering
• Electrical stunning shows promise, but fish often recover too quickly and we still don’t have enough data to prove it works reliably in large-scale farms
• Percussive stunning and destroying the central nervous system may be more effective, but lack validation at commercial scales
• There's an urgent need for validated, scalable, and humane alternatives
Species like gilthead seabream and European seabass have shown how neurological indicators are important to assess stunning efficacy.
>> The future of aquaculture depends on science-backed, ethical solutions. It's time for cross-sector collaboration to set humane standards. You can access the full report here.
(posted on June 25, 2025)
