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2026-04-25
New episodes of fair-fish database podcast programme
There are new podcast episodes available on FishEthoGroup's podcast programme about the fair-fish database! Series 20 of the farm branch of species reared in aquaculture covers Hoven's carp (Leptobarbus hoevenii), Mud carp (Cirrhinus molitorella), and Smallscale mud carp (Cirhrinus microlepis). As usual, you will get general and welfare-related information – including our welfare assessment – in around 3 to 5 minutes time.
Another episode tackles the fishery of Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) caught with hand lines and pole-and-lines.
You will find the episodes on the Overview page of the respective species here in the fair-fish database or over at FishEthoGroup's! Please let us know what you think about this format on our contact form.
2026-04-11
Update WelfareCheck | farm: Clarias gariepinus
Our WelfareCheck of Clarias gariepinus, the African sharptooth catfish, was from 2017 and overdue for an update. This catfish was our highest-scoring species, but our recent assessment – using our updated scoring rationale and newly added sources – could not uphold this score.
Natural spatial needs exceed what any farming facility is able to offer, and the species is aggressive and stressed by husbandry. Malformations are a frequent problem, and even though hints for reduction exist, it is not clear by how much the malformation rates may be reduced. Further research is also needed on stocking densities that strike a balance between aggression and stress.
The silver lining concerns reproduction – which leaves the individuals free from hormonal manipulation and stripping – as well as earthen ponds with vegetation that cater to the substrate needs. More criteria might follow, for example, if the promising slaughter protocols that lab studies identified are verified for the farming context.
Let us know what you think. Where you aware of this situation contrary to the reputation of C. gariepinus as resilient? Do you have expertise to inform our assessment?
2026-03-30
Update WelfareCheck | farm: Acipenser baerii
2026 will be the sturgeon year for the fair-fish database. We cover 7 sturgeons whose WelfareChecks all need an update. First up: Acipenser baerii, the Siberian sturgeon. Sturgeons are mostly reared for their eggs (caviar), and A. baerii is no exception, even though selling it for its meat is also possible regionally.
As the presumably most frequently farmed one of the list, it is all the more surprising that there are a lot of knowledge gaps about wild needs of A. baerii. Especially spatial and social requirements are hard to gauge and so make it difficult to score the possibilities for good welfare in captivity. After having to wait 6 or 7 years until the individuals mature, farmers don't leave reproduction to chance: Everything surrounding ovulation and spawning is highly artificial and stressful. As a carnivorous species, it requires fish meal and fish oil in the diet even if partial replacement has been tested.
Nevertheless, our WelfareScore increased slightly since 2017. This is due to the calm nature of the species (at least after the fry stage), the generally low rate of malformations, and an existing slaughter protocol. Additionally, substrate needs are met if raised in earthen ponds (just not for spawners), and there are recommendations for reducing (if not avoiding) stress.
Do you concur with our findings? Do you have sources to fill the knowledge gaps? Please contact us.
2026-03-03
New Method profile of set nets
We broadened our portfolio of method profiles by adding a Dossier on "set nets". Our method profiles consist of the information gathered in the WelfareChecks on species caught with the respective method. This allows to get an overview of different application examples of the method in different parts of the world and on different species. In the case of set nets, the WelfareChecks are those of Merluccius merluccius, the European hake, and Mullus surmuletus, the Striped red mullet. From now on, each WelfareCheck we add on a species caught with set nets will also enrich the method profile of set nets.
Set nets consist of a wall of netting set at the bottom of a body of water. The netting is either made of one layer ("gillnets") or three layers ("trammel nets"). When fishes swim into it, they get interlocked in between the meshes in different ways. Main hazards are the duration of the soak time, the manual disentanglement from the gear under air exposure, and high rates of undersized target species and accidentally caught non-target species which can only partially be ameliorated. Further research is also needed on a slaughter procedure that includes a reliable stunning step.
To find out more, please explore the new method profile on set nets here and navigate to the Dossier for the main content. If you know of more information that can fill the gaps, don't hesitate to get in touch!
2026-01-20
Update WelfareCheck | farm: Ctenopharyngodon idella
Ctenopharyngodon idella, the Grass carp, is one of the four major Chinese carps. We had published the previous version of the WelfareCheck in 2017 and now gave it its due update according to our current scoring and formatting rules. Thanks to newly inserted papers, we were able to upgrade a lot of the Certainty values from Low to Medium which means that we are more secure in our scorings of the probability for good welfare under minimal and high-standard farming conditions. There is nevertheless research missing in almost all criteria to be fully certain of how well C. idella may be.
Even though there are possibilities to improve the sitation for C. idella in a lot of criteria, we assessed that in only 3 criteria, good welfare may be achieved under high-standard farming conditions. Exceptionally large ponds may cover the daily space needs of the species; if supplied with enrichment, ideally vegetation, ponds will satisfy the substrate use; and aggression is most likely no issue given enough food and the right partners for polyculture. Whether more criteria can achieve this benevolent scoring, future research will tell.
If you know of papers that can inform our evaluation, or if you have other comments, please get in touch!
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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