After Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Oreochromis aureus (Blue tilapia), we looked into their hybrid: O. niloticus x O. aureus. Although praised for better growth and higher cold tolerance compared to the parental species, welfare wise the hybrid is not more than the sum of its parts. Whereas O. niloticus reached a WelfareScore of 1|4|3 and belongs to the top 5 species we cover at the moment, the hybrid places at 2|2|1 and only reaches "High" scores for Potential and Certainty in about half the number of criteria than O. niloticus. This means that good welfare in the best case scenario may only be achieved in 2 of 10 criteria, and we are certain about our scoring (in terms of number and quality of sources) in 1 criterion.

Compared to O. aureus (1|2|0), it is a slight improvement of welfare which is good news as worldwide, ca 100 times more individuals are reared of this hybrid than of O. aureus. Still, in 9 out of 10 criteria we request further research to know better the situation as is and how to improve it. For details, please find the WelfareCheck here.

Have you noticed the different look of the fair-fish database? After the launch in June 2022, we are re-dressing the website in the new colours of the fair-fish corporate identity. And we are doing more than that: We have begun re-shaping major parts of the species profiles. Further changes will follow, so stay tuned!

If you would like to know more about these and other things on the fair-fish database, why not join us for the "Online shoal fair-fish database" on April 24th 2025 at 3-6 pm CET? We will give a tour of the features, possibilities, latest improvements, and future plans. It will be your opportunity to ask questions about the database you have always wanted to know the answer to. We hope to see you there!

For the preliminary programme and how to register, please go here.

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!

FishEthoGroup published another episode of the fair-fish database podcast programme of FishTalk. This time it's all about Merluccius merluccius, European hake. This WelfareCheck comes from the catch branch of our fair-fish database dealing with aquatic species and their welfare concerns in fisheries. In around 5 min, you will learn general bits of information on M. merluccius as well as issues associated with catching this species with set nets.

Please find this episode in the Merluccius merluccius species profile as well as over at FishEthoGroup.

Another one of our WelfareChecks was turned into a 5 min podcast episode for the FishTalk programme about the fair-fish database. Scomber colias, the Atlantic chub mackerel, is a wild-caught species from our catch branch, mostly caught with purse seine. Find out about the pitfalls of catching this species with this method in the episode.

You may also find it over at FishEthoGroup who produces FishTalk. When you are there, check out their other podcast programme "Fish Five": five questions each about fish welfare and behaviour. The first episode is an interview with Felicity Huntingford on emotional fever!