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Performance di nuoto come indicatore di benessere della spigola di allevamento: risultati preliminari

fish welfare critical swimming speed repeat swimming Dicenthrarcus labrax

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Measurements of swimming ability, such as critical swimming speed has been recently used as an useful indicator of fish welfare.

Measurements of swimming ability, such as critical swimming speed has been recently used as an useful indicator of fish welfare. This paper presents preliminary results of critical swimming speed trials on reared sea-bass (Dicentrarchus labrax; Osteichthyes: Perciformes) as an Operational Welfare Indicator (OWI).
Swimming performances were conducted on 43 reared sea-bass. Both Absolute critical swimming speed (cms-1) and relative critical swimming speed (body lengths per second) show significant (R2=0.58, R2=0.41 respectively) linear correlations with fish total length. In addition, a subsequent Ucrit (recovery test) was conducted on a sub-sample of 13 fish and results didn’t show any significant difference between Ucrit1 and Ucrit2, confirming a general well-being of the tested specimens.