Spain’s leading animal welfare researchers have ratified their commitment through a open letter with the activity of the aquaculture sector of our country in everything relating to fish welfare.
In this context, Aquaculture of Spain highlights the strong commitment of the scientific community to the development of the sector through from different universities and research centers in Spainwho carry out their work from different approaches and areas of knowledge in aquaculture.
The scientific community highlights in its writings the involvement of the aquaculture production sector in Spain in the development of best practice guides on fish welfare and its firm commitment to the promotion and development of responsible practices. This joint effort underlines the capacity of the sector to evolve towards a more ethical and responsible culture model.
Fake or biased news
The letter highlights the fundamental role that the scientific community plays as a reference point in terms of animal welfare during the different phases of the fish life cycle (nutrition, growth, health, slaughter, reproduction, etc.), develop its activity according to criteria of maximum respect for animal rights and their well-being.
Furthermore, researchers themselves have a particular interest in transferring the knowledge and discoveries obtained to consumers and society in general, and are even offered to “contrast false or biased information by third parties with vested interests or who even try to put pressure on aquaculture companies.
This proposal arises “in response to recent accusations against aquaculture companies launched by certain organizations “which, according to scientists, do not contribute to improving the sustainability of the sector, but can even put its viability at risk”, according to Acuícola de España.
Commitment to animal welfare
The entity affirms that “the aquaculture sector in Spain has not only demonstrated in recent years a firm commitment to animal welfare, but has also carried out exemplary initiatives at European level such as the development of the Guides on fish welfare in Spanish aquaculturedeveloped with the support of the administration, NGOs and experts.
These guides represent an essential step in advancing fish living in optimal conditions, aligned with the latest scientific advances and, as the experts point out, “to promote real improvements in aquaculture activity and ensure its long-term sustainability”.
Alliance between science and business
The letter also shows how the Spanish scientific community constitutes a fundamental part of the driver of innovation in the field of fish welfare and has become an international reference, thanks to projects such as Piscibien, Wellstun and Ignition.
In addition, recently a team of Spanish scientists assumed coordination of the European Reference Center for Aquatic Animal Welfare (EURCAW-Aqua), thus strengthening the leadership of Spanish aquaculture in this area.
The entity emphasizes that “this advance not only responds to the growing interest of consumers in ethical practices, but also seeks to protect the aquaculture sector against unfounded attacks that could falsely affect its continuity“. “It is essential to work together to strengthen the sector instead of dividing it with biased information,” insist the researchers in their open letter.
Fish welfare
Thanks to the collaboration already established between the scientific community and the aquaculture sector, Spain positions itself as a leader in researchinnovation and development of aquaculture on a global scale.
The researchers point out that this is a key moment to significantly improve fish welfare. The priority of this group of experts is therefore to continue research and apply results based on scientific evidencefor the benefit of both the fish, the sector and society in general.
“Only with close collaboration between all agents can we guarantee the continuous improvement of fish welfare and sustainability of aquaculture activity in Spain”, the experts conclude.
Scientific equipment
Among the scientists signatories There is the researcher Pablo Arechavala belonging to the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA-CSIC). Arechavala is a marine biologist and doctor of marine sciences specializing in the behavior, ecology and welfare of farmed and wild marine fish.
Among the authors of the letter is also the researcher Rafael Ginés, from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the ECOAQUA University Institute. Researcher. Aquaculture Research Group.
Added to this are other profiles such as Professor Juan Miguel Mancera, from the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences. from the University of Cádiz (UCA) and member of the University Institute of Marine Research; Professor Daniel Montero from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and belongs to the Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Research Group.
Another of the authors of the open letter is Francesc Padrós from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), member of the Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and of the Fish Pathological Diagnostic Service.
Ana Roque, from the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA). A researcher, she is a veterinary doctor from the University of Lisbon (Portugal); PhD in Aquaculture from the University of Stirling (UK); Lluis Tort from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) from the Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology and specialist in fish physiology and comparative physiology. AQUAB-FISH. EURCAW-Aqua.
Finally, there is Morris Villarroel, from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and the Higher Technical School of Agronomic, Food and Biosystems Engineering. Center for Studies and Research for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks (CEIGRAM).
