Farming remarks
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix is one of the four Chinese major carps, together with H. nobilis, Ctenopharyngodon idella, and Mylopharyngodon piceus. This freshwater BENTHOPELAGIC fish naturally occurs in river systems in China and Russia and has been introduced into many countries for aquaculture purposes, despite its apparent great invasion potential and low market price. Together with H. nobilis, it is one of the most intensively cultured fish species in Asia, which is commonly raised in a system of 'harvesting and stocking', that is, stocking at a high density, partial harvesting of the larger FISHES, and the addition of new fingerlings.
This Chinese carp, which prefers low flow but not stagnant waters, is commonly raised in polycultures in ponds, pens, reservoirs or lakes. As a plankton feeder, H. molitrix is frequently stocked in ponds for water quality enhancement and as a biocontrol method for phytoplankton. Competition with other species of similar feeding habits in polycultures is expected. H. molitrix is known for leaping out of the water when disturbed, and it naturally breeds during late spring and summer when the water level increases, migrating upstream to spawn. This carp is not able to spawn naturally in ponds or tanks, and its age and size at sexual maturity is apparently very variable and greatly affected by temperature, which means that it can be sold before reaching maturity. H. molitrix is usually kept alive from harvesting to marketing, as it is commonly consumed fresh, so that trucks and boats with water are frequently used as transportation tools. More studies about better slaughtering processes, stress response, and malformations on this species are needed, as well as studies about aggression both in wild and farm conditions. Furthermore, as most of the wild information comes from non-native waters research, more studies are still necessary in native waters.
For details see: WelfareCheck | farm (latest major release: 2021-11-04)
Related news
In our FishTalk podcast, please find new episodes of the FishEthoBase programme here. Series 7 is about Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), and Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). In just a few words - less than 3 min - you will learn about natural needs, behaviours or farming conditions of the species to accompany their profile in the FishEthoBase.
Probably, we updated the profile. Check the version number in the head of the page. For more information on the version, see the FAQ about this. Why do we update profiles? Not just do we want to include new research that has come out, but we are continuously developing the database itself. For example, we changed the structure of entries in criteria or we added explanations for scores in the WelfareCheck | farm. And we are always refining our scoring rules.
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
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!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.