Dossier:
not provided by us yet
WelfareCheck:
F (2026-09-28)
Advice:
not provided by us yet
Profile status
Taxonomy
Ethograms
In the wild:
not investigated by us yet
Farm/lab:
not investigated by us yet
Catch/lab:
not investigated by us yet
Habitat
Growth
Swimming
Reproduction
Nest building:
no data found yet
Courtship:
no data found yet
Mating type:
no data found yet
Brood care:
no data found yet
Social behaviour
Aggregation:
no data found yet
Organisation:
not investigated by us yet
Aggression:
Finsufficient data
Handling
Farming remarks
Acipenser naccarii (Adriatic sturgeon) is a member of the family Acipenseridae. It is a large, long-lived species. Historically, its range included all the rivers of the Adriatic Sea basin, with some possible but unconfirmed populations in some Spanish rivers. Wild populations have declined strongly, mainly due to overfishing and the disturbance of its natural environment. There is uncertainty related to wild ecology, as its presence is nowadays confirmed only in a few, small populations in the Po river basin.
Adriatic sturgeon is currently farmed in Spain and possibly Italy, mainly for the eggs (caviar), secondarily for the meat, depending on each country’s internal market. For this reason, its aquaculture focuses on rearing individuals for a long period of time (6-7 years) in big tanks or earthen ponds until sexual maturity is reached and it is possible to collect the eggs. To this end, hormonal manipulation is used to maximise egg production; individuals destined for meat production are slaughtered before sexual maturation begins.
The WelfareScore is generally low to unclear, reflecting both welfare challenges and substantial gaps in the available evidence. The species’ space needs cannot be fully assessed, as information is mainly available from farms, and further research on home range and depth use in the wild is needed. The presence of a reported resident population in the Ticino river is promising for the Potential of migratory needs, but more research is needed. Reproduction in captivity depends on hormonal manipulation and stripping, while information on breeding behaviour in the wild is lacking. Information on natural density and species-specific aggression is also scarce, although aggression might be limited to the fry stage, as reported in related species. Earthen ponds can provide more natural bottom conditions for juveniles and adults, although natural reproduction and spawning substrate are not currently achievable for spawners. Stress associated with water quality, handling, and density is likely to occur under minimal farming conditions, while mitigation approaches for high-standard farming conditions still require verification in the farming context. Malformations may occur, but evidence on their frequency across life stages in farms is insufficient. Slaughter practices range from spiking without prior stunning to percussive stunning followed by bleeding while the fish remains unconscious, with the latter providing a substantially better welfare outcome when correctly applied. Overall, the limited amount of evidence, particularly on the species’ natural ecology and behaviour, creates considerable uncertainty in several criteria. Further research could substantially improve the assessment and identify more opportunities for welfare improvement.
For details see: WelfareCheck | farm (latest major release: 2026-09-28)
Related news
2026-09-29: Update WelfareCheck | farm: Acipenser naccarii
Next stop in our sturgeon year is the Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii). Even though this sturgeon is only seldomly farmed (probably just in Italy and Spain), we needed this WelfareCheck to be up to date, because Adriatic sturgeon gets hybridised with the Siberian sturgeon (which we had dealt with earlier this year). This hybrid is the next sturgeon species on our list to update.
Despite this role in being one parent of a hybrid, there are still a lot of knowledge gaps for the Adriatic sturgeon: For the spatial needs, aggregation preferences, aggressive tendencies, and malformations, we could not properly score welfare in the farming context due to missing information.
If focusing on the resident strain, providing earthen ponds with natural substrate, taking care to avoid stressors, and choosing percussive stunning followed by bleeding, the Adriatic sturgeon can experience medium to good welfare in captivity. One large issue – as with the previous sturgeons we looked at – remains reproduction which is far removed from happening naturally.
Please let us know what you think – about the Adriatic sturgeon or other feedback on the fair-fish database.
Acipenser naccarii
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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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