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2025-07-08
Update WelfareCheck | farm: Seriola lalandi
We gave the WelfareCheck | farm of Seriola lalandi, the Yellowtail amberjack, an extensive update. Since its creation in 2017, we have adjusted the way we do entries and the way we score. This is now reflected in the updated profile which ended up with a lower WelfareScore than before.
Seriola lalandi is an ocean-dwelling species from the Southern hemisphere, praised for its excellently tasting meat which is used raw for Sushi. This manager of a fish farm, who abandoned Salmo salar in favour of Seriola lalandi, stresses the lower electricity bills, as the water does not have to be cooled anymore (for Salmo salar) but instead heated – which costs less. Does this make Seriola lalandi a good candidate for aquaculture?
There are numerous issues – on spatial needs, aggression, malformations, etc. – and the species is carnivorous which makes replacement of fish meal and fish oil hard. In the worst case, breeders are taken from the wild and manipulated to spawn, especially adults may suffer from high densities as they can live solitary in the wild, it is unclear whether the species would benefit from adding substrate, and we cannot be certain that ethical stunning is accepted as a standard worldwide. These were formely positively scored criteria that we downgraded.
Even though there are farming facilities that overlap with the wild needs, and there are proposals for mitigation measures for some of the issues, this was not enough to assume a good welfare in most of the criteria. All in all, the WelfareScore is low. To know more, explore the profile of Seriola lalandi and see the justifications for the scores in the WelfareCheck.
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.
2025-06-05
Design and content changes part 3
This is the third news post this year on design and content changes that we have applied to the fair-fish database website. After the colour scheme (09.03.2025) and the Overview (01.05.2025), let's take a look at the new homepage this time.
At the top, you will find the familiar search bar. Type in the Latin or common name of a species – or brand new: the name of a catching method – and you will be directed to the respective Overview page. Below the search bar is list of things to find here. This is meant for users who have not been to the website and don't know what to expect.
Some things have stayed – testimonials, team, and cooperation partners – other things have moved. Our welfare approach is now presented on the homepage, not in a subpage anymore; and news, the list of the 5 most recent additions or updates as well as the donation information have moved to the left panel.
Through the burger menu (three horizontal bars on the upper right corner), you can now reach a site listing our publications – peer-reviewed and internally reviewed. Another new addition is the FAQ. This is displayed in many other sub-pages and contains both, the information relevant for the respective page as well as more general questions. Do you have questions that we should add? Other feedback? Why not use the contact form that you still find at the bottom of the homepage!
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!
2025-05-09
New episodes of fair-fish database podcast programme
FishEthoGroup's latest podcast series of the fair-fish database programme of "FishTalk" covers our three tilapia species: Nile (Oreochromis niloticus), Blue (Oreochromis aureus), and hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus). For each of those, you will find some general information and a look into welfare hazards and how to improve those in just around 2 minutes listening time.
The information for these spotlights stems – as always – from the WelfareChecks of the species in our fair-fish database. You can find the podcasts in the respective species profiles as part of the Overview or over at FishEthoGroup. Enjoy!
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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