Cortisol and finfish welfare |
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| Authors: | Tim Ellis Hijran Yavuzcan Yildiz Jose López-Olmeda Maria Teresa Spedicato Lluis Tort ?yvind ?verli Catarina I M Martins |
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| Institution: | (1) Cefas Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, The Nothe, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8UB, UK;(2) Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ankara University, 06110 Ankara, Turkey;(3) Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;(4) COISPA, Stazione Sperimentale per lo Studio delle Risorse del Mare, 70126 Bari, Italy;(5) Unit de Fisiolog?a Animal, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;(6) Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway;(7) CCMAR, Centro de Ci?ncias do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;(8) Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Previous reviews of stress, and the stress hormone cortisol, in fish have focussed on physiology, due to interest in impacts
on aquaculture production. Here, we discuss cortisol in relation to fish welfare. Cortisol is a readily measured component
of the primary (neuroendocrine) stress response and is relevant to fish welfare as it affects physiological and brain functions
and modifies behaviour. However, we argue that cortisol has little value if welfare is viewed purely from a functional (or
behavioural) perspective—the cortisol response itself is a natural, adaptive response and is not predictive of coping as downstream
impacts on function and behaviour are dose-, time- and context-dependent and not predictable. Nevertheless, we argue that
welfare should be considered in terms of mental health and feelings, and that stress in relation to welfare should be viewed
as psychological, rather than physiological. We contend that cortisol can be used (with caution) as a tractable indicator
of how fish perceive (and feel about) their environment, psychological stress and feelings in fish. Cortisol responses are
directly triggered by the brain and fish studies do indicate cortisol responses to psychological stressors, i.e., those with
no direct physicochemical action. We discuss the practicalities of using cortisol to ask the fish themselves how they feel
about husbandry practices and the culture environment. Single time point measurements of cortisol are of little value in assessing
the stress level of fish as studies need to account for diurnal and seasonal variations, and environmental and genetic factors.
Areas in need of greater clarity for the use of cortisol as an indicator of fish feelings are the separation of (physiological)
stress from (psychological) distress, the separation of chronic stress from acclimation, and the interactions between feelings,
cortisol, mood and behaviour. |
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