Assessment of Tilapia ( Oreochromis spp.) Welfare in the Semi-Intensive and Intensive Culture Systems in Thailand

Assessment of Tilapia ( Oreochromis spp.) Welfare in the Semi-Intensive and Intensive Culture Systems in Thailand

Welfare assessments have risen to prominence in the aquaculture industry, with increasing awareness of their significance among stakeholders in Thailand. In this study, we conducted a welfare assessment of tilapia ( spp.) farms in Thailand, focusing on health, environmental, behavioural, and nutriti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 15; p. 2498
Main Authors: Lertwanakarn, Tuchakorn, Purimayata, Thitima, Luengyosluechakul, Thnapol, Grimalt, Pau Badia, Pedrazzani, Ana Silvia, Quintiliano, Murilo Henrique, Surachetpong, Win
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 02-08-2023
MDPI
Subjects:
Alkalinity
Ammonia
Analysis
Animal welfare
Aquaculture
Aquaculture industry
cage culture
earthen pond
Farms
Feeds
fish welfare
Mariculture
Mortality
Nutrition
Ponds
Seafood industry
Skin
Tilapia
tilapia farming
Values
Water quality
welfare assessment
Thailand
United States > US
earthen pond
fish welfare
welfare assessment
tilapia farming
cage culture
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Summary:Welfare assessments have risen to prominence in the aquaculture industry, with increasing awareness of their significance among stakeholders in Thailand. In this study, we conducted a welfare assessment of tilapia ( spp.) farms in Thailand, focusing on health, environmental, behavioural, and nutritional indicators. Comparing semi-intensive (earthen ponds) and intensive farming practices (cage culture), we found significant differences in the overall health score, particularly at farm F due to a disease outbreak (Kruskal-Wallis, = 0.01). Skin and fin scores varied across farms, indicating their potential as indicators of tilapia health. Environmental assessments revealed differences in transparency between the two culturing systems (Mann-Whitney, = 0.02). During the harvesting process, tilapia behaviours indicated poor welfare across all farms. However, no statistically significant difference in overall welfare scores was found between the two culturing systems. Correlations were observed between nutritional, environmental, and health indicators, with negative correlations between fish density and water transparency ( = -0.87, = 0.02), presence of inhabitants ( = -0.78, = 0.04), feeding behaviours ( = -0.78, = 0.04), and swimming behaviours during capture ( = -0.98, = 0.001). These findings provide valuable insights to enhance tilapia-farming practices and welfare in Thailand.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani13152498