> Ethology in practice: “Measuring Animal Behaviour” advanced training course recap

💡 From June 10–12, 2025, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), in collaboration with FishEthoGroup Association (FEG) and Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), hosted an intensive, hands-on course on ethological methods and animal behavioural data analysis in Esporles, Mallorca.

Over three days, participants:
✔️ Studied the four levels of behavioural analysis (evolution, function, development, mechanisms)
✔️ Practiced ethogram development and data collection techniques
✔️ Applied their skills in a real-life setting at Palma Aquarium

This course combined theory and application, empowering attendees with tools for scientific research and animal behaviour studies. Thank you to everyone who made this course such a success!

(posted on June 16, 2025)

New paper out!

We believe that solid scientific knowledge is fundamental to practically improving the welfare of fish and other farmed aquatic animals. High-quality publications in this field are the cornerstone of achieving this goal.

Our team member Joao L. Saraiva co-authored a paper recently published in Scientific Reports journal. The authors used the Welfare Footprint Framework (WFF) - a tool providing cumulative time in affective states of varying intensities as a standardized welfare impact measure - to quantify the impact of air asphyxia during fish slaughter, using rainbow trout as a case study. 

💡 The study shows that slaughtering fish by asphyxia can cause around 10 minutes of moderate to intense pain per trout. Electrical stunning could prevent up to 1,200 minutes of serious fish pain for every dollar invested—but results vary in practice. Percussive stunning works well, but it's still hard to put into action on a large scale. 

> If you are interested, access this new published paper here.

(posted on June 9, 2025)

Call for Registration & Abstracts is Open for SPE Congress!

 The 22nd Congress of the Portuguese Ethological Society (SPE) is taking place on October 30–31, 2025, at the University of Algarve (Penha Campus), Faro, Portugal.

📝 Registration is now open here.

💡 We invite students, researchers, and professionals working in animal behaviour and welfare to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations. Submit here.

⚠️ Note: Presenting authors must be registered participants.

Organized by Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), and FishEthoGroup, the congress will cover a wide range of topics — from aquatic to terrestrial species, and from behaviour to welfare.

>> This is a unique opportunity to present your work, exchange ideas, and expand your network in a beautiful setting in southern Portugal. We hope to see you there!

(posted on June 5, 2025)

Ethology course soon!

> Ethology Course – Registration Open | June 10–12, 2025 | Mallorca, Spain

The FishEthoGroup, IMEDEA (CSIC/UIB), and CCMAR are offering a 3-day intensive course on animal behaviour for students in biology-related fields. The course combines theoretical and practical approaches, including hands-on fieldwork at Palma Aquarium.

📍 Location: IMEDEA – Esporles, Mallorca
 📅 Dates: June 10–12, 2025
 🎓 Open to Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students in biology-related fields

New: Get 50% off the registration fee by enrolling before June 1st.

Key features:
> Expert instructors: Dr. Joao L. Saraiva, Dr. María J. Cabrera-Álvarez, Dr. Pablo Arechavala-Lopez
> Fee: €200 (includes lectures and field activities)
> 5 grants for IMEDEA students

Only 20 participants will be accepted (first come, first served)
📧 To register, email: mail@fishethogroup.net, including your full name, academic background, current role, institution, country, and whether you qualify for a grant.

> This is a great opportunity to develop applied skills in behavioural science!

(posted on May 28, 2025)

New blog post!

The Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) is a migratory species found in the temperate waters of the North Atlantic and parts of the Mediterranean Seas.

💡 It is one of the most important commercial fish species in the region - about 865,000 tonnes of this mackerel is caught annually, meaning nearly 2 billion individual fishes! It is mainly caught by purse seine fishing.

>> Would you like to know the main fish welfare concerns related to the capture of this mackerel by purse seining? Please, take a look at our new post about that at the blog ConsCIÊNCIA Animal here.

>> You may also access its WelfareCheck profile in the fair-fish database here.

(posted on May 26, 2025)

New podcast episode about a fished species!

Fair-fish database programme features short audio episodes from our Fish Talk podcast. These audios focus on species with profiles already published in the database of fair-fish. We aim to provide insights into natural needs, behaviours and farming conditions or welfare hazards in fisheries for fishes and other aquatic animals, all in just a few minutes.

💡 Yesterday, we launched our new episode focused on a fished species. It's about Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) caught using set net fishing—a profile now available in the fair-fish database's catch branch. Don't miss the chance to check it out!

> If you are interested, please go to our podcast page and listen to this new episode of the fair-fish database programme here.

(posted on May 20, 2025)

Ethology course soon!

>> Ethology Course – Registration Open
📅 June 10–12, 2025 | Esporles, Mallorca – Spain

>> This course begins in under a month. Register soon to guarantee your place!
📍 Hosted at IMEDEA - Institut Mediterrani d'estudis Avançats (CSIC/UIB), in collaboration with FishEthoGroup and Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR)

This 3-day intensive course offers a practical, research-based approach to the study of animal behaviour. Participants will explore the four levels of behavioural analysis (evolution, function, development, mechanisms), construct ethograms, apply research tools, and conduct observational fieldwork at the Palma Aquarium.

👩‍🏫 Instructors: Dr. Joao L. Saraiva, Dr. María J. Cabrera-Álvarez, Dr. Pablo Arechavala-Lopez
🎓 Designed for undergraduate, MSc, and PhD students in life sciences
💶 Fee: €200 (includes lectures and fieldwork)
🎓 5 grants available for IMEDEA students
👥 Limited to 20 participants – early registration is recommended
📧 To register, email mail@fishethogroup.net with your:
- Full name
- Academic background
- Current position
- Institution
- Country
- Grant eligibility (if IMEDEA student)

(posted on May 19, 2025)

New paper out!

Our team member Caroline M. Maia co-authored a review paper recently published in Fishes Journal. This study highlights the most pressing welfare concerns and challenges in the ornamental fish trade and discusses potential strategies to mitigate its negative impacts on fish welfare. 

💡The authors explore key topics like legislation, gaps in proper information, the welfare of fish in their final destinations and initiatives aiming to improve fish welfare in this trade. They also promote a shift in terminology from 'ornamental fish' to 'pet fish'. It is a small change that reflects a bigger movement toward recognizing these animals as sentient beings.

> If you would like to access this new review paper, click here.

(posted on May 16, 2025)

New Paper Out!

> New paper published!

We believe that solid scientific knowledge is fundamental to practically improving the welfare of fish and other farmed aquatic animals. High-quality publications in this field are the cornerstone of achieving this goal.

💡 In this context, our team member Caroline M Maia co-authored a paper recently published in Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. This study examines the preference responses of Nile tilapia for artificial water hyacinth as a structural enrichment, under different stocking densities.

> The authors showed that Nile tilapia expressed a strong preference for this easy-to-build and inexpensive enrichment —especially when kept in crowded tanks. This finding highlights that such artificial structure may be a useful option to improve this fish welfare in farms.

> If you are interested, access this new published paper here.

(posted on May 5, 2025)

Crucian carp

The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) is a freshwater fish found in lakes, ponds, rivers, and reservoirs across Europe and Asia. Originally farmed in China and Japan, it’s now raised in many countries, often in ponds, pens, or rice fields. Providing plants and soft substrates could help improve its welfare in farms. 

>> If you would like to know more about Crucian carp, please take a look at our new post about this species at blog ConsCIÊNCIA Animal blog here.

>> If you are interested, you can also access its overview page and its WelfareCheck profile in the fair-fish database here and here.

(posted on April 29, 2025)

New podcast episodes at our fair-fish database programme!

The Fair-Fish Database Programme is a series of bite-sized audio episodes from our Fish Talk podcast. Each episode focuses on a species with a profile already published in the fair-fish database. 

💡 The idea behind this programme is to share quick insights into the natural needs, behaviours, and farming conditions of fish and other farmed aquatic animals —all in under 3 minutes.

Last week, we dropped new episodes. This time, they're about Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus), and Hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus).

> If you are interested, don't miss the chance to check them out!

> You can go to our podcast page and listen to the new episodes (series 19) here.

(posted on April 24, 2025)

>> Registration Open – Advanced Course in Ethology!

MEASURING BEHAVIOUR: Defining, quantifying, and analysing behavioural data

A 3-day training for undergrad, MSc, and PhD students interested in animal behaviour. Includes lectures, ethogram design, behavioural data collection, and a practical session at Palma Aquarium.

📍 Location: IMEDEA - Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies, Esporles – Mallorca, Spain
 📅 Dates: June 10th–12th, 2025
 💶 Fee: €200 | Limited to 20 participants
 🧑‍🏫 Lecturers: Dr. Joao L. Saraiva, Dr. María J. Cabrera-Álvarez, Dr. Pablo Arechavala-Lopez

> Organised by IMEDEA-CSIC/UIB with FishEthoGroup and Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR).
 
>> To apply: mail@fishethogroup.net

(posted on April 21, 2025)

New fish welfare guide published!

Good communication is fundamental to help improving the welfare of farmed fishes in a practical way. Thus, the publication of well-founded fish welfare guidelines are also part of our actions.

💡 Pablo Arechavala-Lopez from our team coordinated the preparation and publication of "A guide on fish welfare in Spanish aquaculture - Volume 4: Welfare of rainbow trout", making another important step toward practical improvements in fish welfare. This publication is the result of the dedicated efforts of a great working group involving several institutions and companies. 

> This work has been financed by APROMAR with co-funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Spanish Government and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund of the European Union.

> If you would like to access the new guideline in English or Spanish, you can access it here.

(posted on April 10, 2025)

Participation in a Meeting!

Disseminating science-based knowledge is one of our key activities to help improve the welfare of farmed fishes and other aquatic animals in a practical way. Making presentations at scientific or industry events is also an important part of our efforts to spread the word and share knowledge about fish behaviour and welfare.

💡 As part of this mission, our team member Joao L. Saraiva attended the '25th meeting of the Scientific Network on Risk Assessment in Animal Health and Welfare', which was organized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in Parma, Italy. João participated online by giving a presentation on a survey of fish husbandry systems in the EU. 

> It was a successful and fruitful opportunity to share our ideas and exchange knowledge.

(posted on April 7, 2025)

Presentation at Seminar in China!

Disseminating science-based knowledge is one of our key activities to help improve the welfare of farmed fishes and other aquatic animals in a practical way. Making presentations at scientific or industry events is also an important part of our efforts to spread the word and share knowledge about fish behaviour and welfare. 

💡 As part of this mission, María J. Cabrera-Álvarez, a member of our team, presented at the 2nd Aquatic Animal Welfare Research and Practice Seminar in Hangzhou, China. She shared insights on the impacts of environmental enrichment on fish welfare, using heart rate as an assessment tool. This event was organized by the Catch Welfare Platform and Zhejiang University.

>> It was a successful opportunity to share our ideas and exchange knowledge! 

(posted on March 31, 2025)