Dossier:
not provided by us yet
WelfareCheck:
F (2025-10-30)
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
Social behaviour
Handling
Farming remarks
Seriola dumerili is a member of the family Carangidae. It is a PELAGIC, gregarious species that can be found in temperate and subtropical waters all around the globe. While being a popular target for recreational fisheries, it is not considered at conservation risk. S. dumerili is mostly being farmed in Japan and in the Mediterranean Sea. The demand for it is driven by its meat being considered of very high quality compared to that of similar species. For this reason, the interest for this species by the aquaculture industry is growing despite the difficulties and costs of production. Most farming is based on the capture of IND from the wild as broodstock and the production of FINGERLINGS that are then reared in sea cages or indoor tanks until reaching the size for harvesting.
While it is a well-known species to fishers, the ecology of S. dumerili during most of the year is not well understood: Most of the knowledge comes from observation of spawning IND and surveys of young IND found inshore. The diet of this species is fully carnivorous, but laboratory studies have shown that some replacement with sustainable sources is possible, even though larger-scale research is necessary. Similarly, while fully completing the life cycle in captivity has been achieved, it has not yet been implemented in the industry.
The WelfareScore is low due to the space need of this species, the difficulties for successful reproduction in captivity, and the lack of high-standard slaughtering practices. There is still missing information about inter-individual aggression in farms. Substrate needs are another avenue for more studies, as research has shown that JUVENILES might have a DEMERSAL phase while transitioning to a PELAGIC behaviour. This possibility could be used to inform better practices for aquaculture.
For details see: WelfareCheck | farm (latest major release: 2025-10-30)
Related news
2025-10-30: Update WelfareCheck | farm: Seriola dumerili
After Seriola lalandi, we now also updated the WelfareCheck of the related Seriola dumerili, the Greater amberjack. The WelfareCheck | farm got the current design of the common age class and label structure for each criterion; we added latest research and applied the recent scoring rules.
This lead to a change in almost all scores. Most notably, we could not maintain the formerly high score in reproduction under high-standard farming conditions, even though we found hints that natural spawning without hormonal manipulation is possible in captivity. Further research is needed to find out whether farmers also refrain from extracting eggs and milt under anaesthesia. Second, we could not confirm the high score for stunning and slaughter, as we did not come across a protocol being applied in farms. This, too, requires further research. If you have more information about these and other knowledge gaps, please contact us!
All in all, Seriola dumerili gained a low WelfareScore – partly due to missing information, but partly also due to an extensive space need, a hint on aggression, and the open question whether the species would thrive with environmental enrichment. Curious? Find all we collected on Seriola dumerili here.
Seriola dumerili
❮
❯
1 / 5
2 / 5
3 / 5
A greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) swims above the reef
4 / 5
5 / 5
good point
good point from country record
non-good point
non-good point from country record
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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