News
New section at ConsCIÊNCIA Animal blog!
Scientific research has demonstrated over the years that at least some species of fishes have receptor cells that are able to detect painful stimuli (nociceptors). Scientific evidence has also shown that fishes have active conductive fibers for this kind of stimulus and that painful information is then processed in the fish brain. And it's very hard to imagine that this whole anatomical-physiological apparatus is only present in the fish species in which it has already been investigated...
In a new section of the FishEthoGroup page at Consciência Animal blog, the ability of fishes to feel pain, other sources of suffering and positive affective states will be discussed, bringing some important scientific evidence about this theme. The first post is already online and more is coming. If you are interested, stay tuned!
If you would like to take a look at the new section and to read this full post at Consciência Animal blog, click here.
This is part of a post-doc project in collaboration with Centro de Aquicultura da UNESP (Caunesp) - Brazil
(posted on March 21, 2023)
New episodes of our Fish Talk podcast!
Yesterday we released new episodes of fair-fish database programme at our Fish Talk podcast. This time the episodes are focused on Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), Sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) and Common dentex (Dentex dentex).
Fair-fish database programme is a series of short audios focused on fish species with profiles already published in the database of fair-fish association. The idea is to give information about natural needs, behaviours and farming conditions of fishes and other aquatic farmed animals in less than 3 min!
If you would like to listen to the new episodes (series 14) or to know our podcast programme, please click here.
(posted on March 16, 2023)
Fishes can feel pain, stress, anxiety and even fear!
Up until relatively a short while ago, the dominating narrative has been that fishes cannot feel pain, and so their welfare has been largely disregarded. But science has demonstrated over the years that fishes can not only feel pain, but are also able to experience stress, anxiety and fear. Like humans, fishes express altered physiological and behavioural responses associated with pain perception, stress, anxiety and fear.
Studies have also demonstrated that fishes can even learn to avoid experiences causing fear and pain. When the experience is intense, just one may be enough for fishes to learn avoiding it in future similar situations!
Becoming aware of this can help to better understand the importance of assessing and working to improve the welfare of these animals under captive conditions. Thus, disseminating relevant information related to the ability of fishes to feel pain, stress, anxiety and fear is also an important strategy to help improving the welfare conditions of these amazing animals.
(posted on March 7, 2023)
Roho labeo (Labeo rohita)
Roho labeo (Labeo rohita) is a freshwater carp that naturally inhabits rivers of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Myanmar, and Nepal. It was already introduced into Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Japan, China, and many other countries.
In aquaculture, Roho labeo is considered the most important cultured fish among the three Indian major carps, which also include Catla (Labeo catla) and Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala). Despite the fact that Roho labeo has been cultured for hundreds of years now, important wild information about this species is still missing.
Although its entire life cycle is already closed in captivity, it is even necessary to induce its reproduction by hormonal manipulation, which is not good for the welfare of this species. On the other hand, considering that Roho labeo can feed on periphyton and that it is frequently raised in polycultures with other carps, a good way to improve its farming conditions may be adding bamboo poles, which can work as periphyton substrate.
If you would like to know more about Roho labeo, please take a look at its overview page here and its short profile here in the fair-fish database.
(posted on Feb. 28, 2023)
New episodes of our Fish Talk podcast!
Fair-fish database programme is a series of very short audios of our Fish Talk podcast. The audios are focused on fish species with profiles already published in the fair-fish database. The idea is to give information about natural needs, behaviours or farming conditions of fishes and other aquatic farmed animals in just a few words (less than 3 min).
We just released new episodes of fair-fish database programme. This time the episodes are focused on Pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus), Burbot (Lota lota) and Amur catfish (Silurus asotus). If you are interested, please click here to know the programme and listen to the new episodes (series 13).
(posted on Feb. 21, 2023)
