European sea bass social behavior influences aquaculture welfare study

Researchers from the Fish Etho Group, fair-fish, and the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies have discovered that social context significantly alters the environmental enrichment preferences of juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

Conducted at the University of Algarve in Portugal, the study analyzed 60 juvenile fish both individually and in groups. When tested alone, individual preferences for physical structures—such as open space, PVC columns, pyramid shelters, or roof-like structures—were heterogeneous and varied depending on whether researchers measured the frequency of visits or the duration of stay. For instance, while some fish frequently visited open spaces, they spent less time there compared to other areas.

However, when the fish were organized into groups, collective behavior superseded individual choices. All four test groups converged on the roof-like structure as their preferred environment. These findings, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, suggest that social dynamics are crucial for improving animal welfare in aquaculture, as traditional intensive farming often lacks the structural complexity found in natural habitats.