“Towards the development of a welfare assessment scheme for European sea bass.” (7094)

Towards the development of a welfare assessment scheme for European sea bass.

Introduction

One of the major challenges in animal welfare science is developing tools that reliably assess and quantify welfare, ensuring they are both scientifically valid and practically applicable. These tools must balance biological relevance with practicality, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions that improve animal welfare while maintaining operational efficiency. This study presents a comprehensive framework for the welfare assessment of farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), including specific indicators, evaluation methods, and measurement units. It also introduces a self-assessment welfare risk management system, with detailed descriptions of the identification of relevant risks, levels of risk tolerance, and degrees of uncertainty.

Methodology

Central to the study is the development of a welfare assessment scheme for on-growing fish, grounded in validated welfare metrics. These metrics were refined using a modified Delphi method – applied for the first time to this species, and among the first in aquaculture – to achieve expert consensus on the usefulness of measurable, reliable, and user-friendly operational welfare indicators. A panel of 26 experts from academia, fish farming industry, competent authorities, NGOs, and opinion-making bodies evaluated a set of indicators derived from a systematic literature review. The scoring of welfare indicators was based on scientific literature, empirical evidence and expert consultation, ensuring that each score reflects current scientific understanding and field experience. The assessment scheme has been evaluated on a pilot scale through its application in selected fish farms, enabling the validation of its practicality, reliability, and effectiveness under real-world conditions.

Results and Conclusions

The Delphi method enabled expert consensus on 25 key welfare indicators for European sea bass, grouped into resource-based, management-based, and animal-based categories. These indicators were incorporated into the development of the welfare assessment scheme. Each indicator is accompanied by a numeric evaluation that quantifies well-justified welfare risk factors and the potential severity of poor welfare outcomes in European sea bass farming. The scoring system serves as a screening tool to assess the current level of welfare impairment on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 3 (highest). The resulting framework offers a scientifically grounded, user-friendly tool for self-assessment and continuous welfare monitoring. Overall, the resulting framework offers a scientifically grounded, user-friendly tool for self-assessment and continuous welfare monitoring. It also lays the groundwork for auditing schemes and future classification of farms based on welfare performance.

1. SAMARAS, ATHANASIOS, UNIVERSITY OF CRETE; EUROPEAN REFERENCE CENTER FOR ANIMAL WELFARE FOR AQUATIC ANIMALS, Presenter
2. PAPAHARISIS, LEONIDAS, EUROPEAN REFERENCE CENTER FOR ANIMAL WELFARE FOR AQUATIC ANIMALS, Author
3. PAVLIDIS, MICHAIL, UNIVERSITY OF CRETE; EUROPEAN REFERENCE CENTER FOR ANIMAL WELFARE FOR AQUATIC ANIMALS, Author