Representatives of the Spanish Government and industry association APROMAR announced the new fish welfare guidelines.
Photo: APROMAR
A set of new guidelines focusing on the welfare of key Spanish aquaculture species, sea bass and gilthead sea bream, have been recently been launched through a collaboration between the Spanish government and industry representatives, scientists and animal welfare organisations.
These comprehensive guidelines, available in both Spanish and English, focus on the welfare of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax - known as lubina in Spanish) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, or dorada in Spanish), offering fish welfare indicators and outlining critical welfare points in production systems.
The guidelines also describe best practices to enhance fish breeding conditions, while providing training proposals and analyzing challenges and opportunities.
The new guides are directed primarily at aquaculture companies and those working in the industry, as well as public authorities and the general public. They aim to influence future regulations and establish fish welfare as a crucial element of sustainability.
The guidelines, presented on 29 April at the General Secretariat of Fisheries in Madrid, result from a collaborative effort by APROMAR, Compassion in World Farming, the Animal Welfare Observatory, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), and various scientific institutions.
The work was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the European Union's Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund.
Further guides for other species, including rainbow trout and turbot, are planned for the coming years.
The full guidelines can be accessed here.