Publication Abstract

On-Farm assessment of trout welfare: current UK research

B. North, J. Turnbull and T. Ellis

Following the recent upsurge of interest in fish welfare, the UK government and trout farming industry have funded projects investigating the welfare implications of stocking density and water quality deterioration. Central to these projects has been the development of a system for the welfare assessment of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) applicable to commercial farming systems. Such a system needs to be sensitive, practical and robust, as well as comprehensive and meaningful. To encompass all objective measures it is important to consult stakeholders in the industry and establish their views with regard to fish welfare. The aims of this study were to field-test a system for fish welfare assessment, and to examine relationships between fish welfare and environmental variables (stocking density, loading rate, flow rate and water quality parameters). 

Reference

B. North, J. Turnbull and T. Ellis (2005) On-Farm assessment of trout welfare: current UK research. Aquaculture Europe 2005