Dossier:
D (2025-04-24)
Advice:
not provided by us yet
WelfareChecks:
4 (see below)
Distribution
Profile status
Taxonomy
Target species
Environmental hazards
Catching remarks
FishTalk
Purse seine is one of the most frequently used catching gears worldwide. The net – usually deployed by a skiff – is carefully placed around a school of FISHES. Once it is closed at the bottom – forming the "purse" – it is hauled close to the ship until it is minimised in size. This crowding step is stressful for the species, resulting in injuries and mortality, and should therefore be kept as short as possible. This can best be assured by targeting smaller catches. If IND need to be released because they exceed the quota, are undersized or of a non-target species, slipping while still in the water is to be preferred over sorting on deck and then discarding. Slipping is stressful, though, and does not always work in schooling species which seek the safety of the group and are reluctant to break away from it.
The IND which are to be retained are pumped or scooped out of the net into the storage space of the vessel. Although pumping is beneficial compared to scooping, as it avoids air and gravity exposure, it is not without drawbacks. A lower pumping velocity and a shorter pumping time will reduce injuries and mortality which again can be achieved by lower catch volumes. Storing often happens with the IND still alive and without the addition of ice. To be preferred is immediate stunning once the IND arrive on board and then slaughter while they are unconscious – something that is not available at the moment. An alternative might be live storage in net pens attached to the vessel which are slowly hauled to shore and then transferred to the processing plant for stunning and slaughter.
Purse seining is said to be species specific, i.e. not involving a large bycatch rate of non-target species. A bigger issue seems to be the risk associated with ghost fishing of abandoned, lost, and discarded gear that urgently needs to be addressed.
Related species profiles
Related news
2026-05-15: New episodes of fair-fish database podcast programme
Series 21 of FishEthoGroup's Fish Talk podcast covering species in the fair-fish database is out! It presents a quick look into the lives of Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth bass), Dicentrarchus labrax (European seabass), and Colossoma macropomum (Tambaqui). In around 3 min each, it also covers the main welfare hazards in aquaculture, possible improvements, and the grounds for our welfare assessment.
In another podcast episode, you will learn about the catching method "purse seine" based on our Method profile of it. We combined the information of the four WelfareChecks of Clupea harengus (Atlantic herring), Engraulis ringens (Peruvian anchoveta), Scomber colias (Atlantic chub mackerel), and Scomber scombrus (Atlantic mackerel) – all caught with purse seine – and complemented the Method profile with more general bits of purse seine knowledge.
As usual, you can find these episodes in the respective profiles here in the fair-fish database or over at FishEthoGroup's. While you are there, also check out their podcast programmes "Fish Five" – interviews with renowned scientists in the field of welfare of aquatic species – and "The Fish Mind" – a look into the different capabilites of aquatic species. Tell your friends about it!
2025-12-03: Turning the purse seine method profile into a peer-reviewed paper
In our ongoing effort to make the database more known, we have recently published in "Fishes", a peer-reviewed journal! We are putting a lot of effort into creating WelfareChecks – and now also method profiles – in the fair-fish database. We are applying a comprehensive approach using sources from peer-reviewed papers to grey literature like YouTube videos, university theses, and governmental reports. We do have an internal review process involving experts in our team, but inviting external reviewers has failed in the past. Therefore, the purpose of publishing in scientific journals is to make the fair-fish database known in larger scientific circles and get feedback by the community through the peer-review process.
In this latest paper, we focused on the method profile of "purse seines" on four small pelagic species that are among the most frequently caught worldwide. The review is not only a look into the welfare-relevant data gathered and critically analysed in the fair-fish database; it also offers an overview of a holistic approach suggested to apply this scientific knowledge in practice by involving practitioners, technology, and economic concerns.
Please find the paper in the Fishes journal under the link provided in the beginning – it is open access! Alternatively, feel free to browse our Publications page where you will find this and previously published peer-reviewed papers from our team as well as non-peer-reviewed manuscripts and the profiles published in the fair-fish database.
2025-06-20: New episode of fair-fish podcast programme
The latest episode in FEG's FishTalk podcast programme on species from the fair-fish database covers Scomber scombrus (Atlantic mackerel) caught with purse seines. In the catch branch (fisheries) of the database, we assess the welfare of aquatic species specific to the catching method. So, the WelfareCheck – and consequently also the FishTalk episode – specifically looks into welfare hazards through capture by purse seines. To find out about the major hazards and ways to alleviate the problems, listen to the 5 min episode over at FEG's website or here in the fair-fish database. Let us know what you think and recommend us further.
2025-05-24: New profile type launched + purse seines
We launched a new part for the catch branch of the fair-fish database looking into welfare for wild-caught species caught with various catching methods. This new part is called a "method profile" (in parallel to a species profile) and takes the perspective of the capture method. For our first method profile, we chose "purse seines". For example, if a fisher owning a purse seine would like to know which welfare hazards to look out for, how to alleviate suffering for the species, and maybe even which species to target because it is least stressed by the method, this is the part to look at.
At the moment, the Dossier of the purse seines method profile comprises the information of the four WelfareChecks of small pelagic species caught with purse seines that we cover. With each new WelfareCheck involving purse seines, the method profile will grow. The structure follows the steps of the catching process, complemented with commercial relevance information, target species, and environmental impact.
The landing page of the purse seines method profile is an Overview similar in structure to the species profiles with pictures, a map showing where the method is applied globally, and general information about the capture method in the form of information snippets. For this new database part – but also for the database in general – we are looking for your feedback. Let us know what you think!
2025-01-28: New WelfareCheck | catch: Scomber scombrus x purse seines
We have a new addition to the fair-fish database | catch, our welfare assessment of aquatic species in fisheries. This time, we took a close look at Scomber scombrus caught with purse seines.
Scomber scombrus, the Atlantic mackerel, is mostly targeted from the Norwegian Sea to the waters off Portugal. Because the species aggregates in large schools, purse seine is the gear of choice. In terms of protecting this delicate species from injuries and stress, targeting very large schools should be avoided, though. The density in the seine net will increase too much even before it is fully crowded next to the vessel. Slipping part of the catch is not that easy, as the individuals prefer the safety of the school. Crowding and pumping should be kept as shortly as possible. Arrival on deck or in storage containers is rough and ends in asphyxia or hypothermia. Ideally, stunning and slaughter should precede storing, but there is no indication of this being applied as far as we know. If you have more knowledge, please get in touch!
2024-01-25: New WelfareCheck | catch: Scomber colias x purse seines
Our third WelfareCheck | catch is online – that of Scomber colias (Atlantic chub mackerel) caught with purse seines. Scomber colias often is second choice after Sardina pilchardus (European pilchard) or other small- and medium-sized pelagic species and then is even slipped for being unwanted. Yet, when these other species are scarce or it is prohibited to catch them, Scomber colias can become targeted to a high degree.
Maybe this situation of being second best in the eyes of fishing folks is the reason we could hardly find research on welfare for this species during the catching process. It nevertheless became clear during the literature search that the species potentially suffers already during hauling the purse seine and then especially after scooping it out. Recommendations how to improve the situation are urgently needed, probably involving immediate stunning once on deck followed by slaughter while still unconscious. If you have more information for us, please let us know!
2023-11-20: New WelfareCheck | catch: Clupea harengus x purse seines
And here is the second WelfareCheck in the recently launched catch branch of the fair-fish database: Clupea harengus (Atlantic herring) caught with purse seines. Although there is more welfare-related research available than for Engraulis ringens, we were not highly certain of any of our scorings. And neither likelihood nor potential turned out to be high in any of the criteria.
We are collecting more feedback and constantly learning. If you are familiar with herring purse seine fisheries and would like to share your knowledge, please do not hesitate to contact us.
2023-11-09: Launch of catch branch of fair-fish database
The fair-fish database team is proud to launch the catch branch of the database. With this, we effectively enter a new era since our start in 2013. After months of work, we now broadened the scope of the database from aquaculture to fisheries.
What stays the same is our concern for the welfare of aquatic species – although in fisheries, we are aware that the welfare will never be good, as the contact with humans is limited to the final chapter of the species' lifes with the eventual goal to kill the fishes. Still, there are many steps along the catching process which potentially give rise to improvements with the aim to at least reduce the suffering as much as possible. For the rationale of the catch branch, see here.
The first profile which introduces the catch branch is the WelfareCheck | catch of Engraulis ringens (Peruvian anchoveta) caught with purse seines. Our assessment of the welfare potential is quite grim which is in part also due to the little literature we found on welfare-related issues. This is just one reason why we released this WelfareCheck as a pre-release: We would like to receive your feedback on the new branch, are eager for your input on Engraulis ringens in particular, and are still ironing out some kinks. Stay tuned for more developments and new profiles of aquatic species in fisheries!
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Profile
What does "not investigated by us yet" mean?
The centre of the Overview is an array of criteria covering basic features and behaviours of the species. Each of this information comes from our literature search on the species. If we researched a full Dossier on the species, probably all criteria in the Overview will be covered and thus filled. This was our way to go when we first set up the database.
Because Dossiers are time consuming to research, we switched to focusing on WelfareChecks. These are much shorter profiles covering just 10 criteria we deemed important when it comes to behaviour and welfare in aquaculture (and lately fisheries, too). Also, WelfareChecks contain the assessment of the welfare potential of a species which has become the main feature of the fair-fish database over time. Because WelfareChecks do not cover as many criteria as a Dossier, we don't have the information to fill all blanks in the Overview, as this information is "not investigated by us yet".
Our long-term goal is to go back to researching Dossiers for all species covered in the fair-fish database once we set up WelfareChecks for each of them. If you would like to support us financially with this, please get in touch at ffdb@fair-fish.net
What is the difference between "not investigated by us yet" and "no data found yet"?
See the question "What does "not investigated by us yet" mean?". In short, if we have not had a look in the literature - or in other words, if we have not investigated a criterion - we cannot know the data. If we have already checked the literature on a criterion and could not find anything, it is "no data found yet". You spotted a "no data found yet" where you know data exists? Get in touch with us at ffdb@fair-fish.net!
General
How to use the FAQ?
First up, you will find answers to questions for the specific page you are on. Scrolling down in the FAQ window, there are also answers to more general questions. Explore our website and the other sub pages and find there the answers to questions relevant for those pages.
How do I navigate in the fair-fish database?
In the fair-fish database, when you have chosen a species (either by searching in the search bar or in the species tree), the landing page is an Overview, introducing the most important information to know about the species that we have come across during our literatures search, including common names, images, distribution, habitat and growth characteristics, swimming aspects, reproduction, social behaviour but also handling details. To dive deeper, visit the Dossier where we collect all available ethological findings (and more) on the most important aspects during the life course, both biologically and concerning the habitat. In contrast to the Overview, we present the findings in more detail citing the scientific references.
Depending on whether the species is farmed or wild caught, you will be interested in different branches of the database.
Farm branch
Founded in 2013, the farm branch of the fair-fish database focuses on farmed aquatic species.
Catch branch
Founded in 2022, the catch branch of the fair-fish database focuses on wild-caught aquatic species.
What is the farm branch?
The heart of the farm branch of the fair-fish database is the welfare assessment – or WelfareCheck | farm – resulting in the WelfareScore | farm for each species. The WelfareCheck | farm is a condensed assessment of the species' likelihood and potential for good welfare in aquaculture, based on welfare-related findings for 10 crucial criteria (home range, depth range, migration, reproduction, aggregation, aggression, substrate, stress, malformations, slaughter).
For those species with a Dossier, we conclude to-be-preferred farming conditions in the Advice | farm. They are not meant to be as detailed as a rearing manual but instead, challenge current farming standards and often take the form of what not to do.
What is the catch branch?
In parallel to farm, the main element of the catch branch of the fair-fish database is the welfare assessment – or WelfareCheck | catch – with the WelfareScore | catch for each species caught with a specific catching method. The WelfareCheck | catch, too, is a condensed assessment of the species' likelihood and potential for good welfare – or better yet avoidance of decrease of good welfare – this time in fisheries. We base this on findings on welfare hazards in 10 steps along the catching process (prospection, setting, catching, emersion, release from gear, bycatch avoidance, sorting, discarding, storing, slaughter).
In contrast to the farm profiles, in the catch branch we assess the welfare separately for each method that the focus species is caught with. In the case of a species exclusively caught with one method, there will be one WelfareCheck, whereas in other species, there will be as many WelfareChecks as there are methods to catch the species with.
Summarising our findings of all WelfareChecks | catch for one species in Advice | catch, we conclude which catching method is the least welfare threatening for this species and which changes to the gear or the catching process will potentially result in improvements of welfare.
What do we mean by "welfare"?
Welfare of aquatic species is at the heart of the fair-fish database. In our definition of welfare, we follow Broom (1986): “The welfare of an individual is its state as regards its attempts to cope with its environment.” Thus, welfare may be perceived as a continuum on which an individual rates “good” or “poor” or everything in between.
We pursue what could be called a combination of not only a) valuing the freedom from injuries and stress (function-based approach) but b) supporting attempts to provide rewarding experiences and cognitive challenges (feelings-based approach) as well as c) arguing for enclosures that mimic the wild habitat as best as possible and allow for natural behaviour (nature-based approach).
What if I have a question?
Try mousing over the element you are interested in - oftentimes you will find explanations this way. If not, there will be FAQ on many of the sub-pages with answers to questions that apply to the respective sub-page. If your question is not among those, contact us at ffdb@fair-fish.net.
Where is the FishEthoBase?
It's right here! We decided to re-name it to fair-fish database for several reasons. The database has grown beyond dealing purely with ethology, more towards welfare in general – and so much more. Also, the partners fair-fish and FishEthoGroup decided to re-organise their partnership. While maintaining our friendship, we also desire for greater independence. So, the name "fair-fish database" establishes it as a fair-fish endeavour.
Frequently asked questions
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