Escape-related behavior of the main mediterranean farmed species - gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and european sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

• Main Authors: Glaropoulos, Alexios, Γλαρόπουλος, Αλέξιος
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Crete (UOC) 2014
• Subjects: Διαφυγές; Αλληλεπιδράσεις με το δίχτυ; Συμπεριφορά; Μεσογειακή υδατοκαλλιέργεια; Τσιπούρα; Λαβράκι; Escape; Net interaction; Behaviour; Mediterranean aguaculture; Cilthead sea bream; European sea bass; Φυσικές Επιστήμες; Βιολογία; Natural Sciences; Biological Sciences; atlantic cod; Gadus morhua
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10442/hedi/38923; https://doi.org/10.12681/eadd/38923

Greece, Spain, Italy, Turkey and France are the major contributors to the total Mediterranean and European aquaculture. The main farmed species in the Mediterranean region are the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), while particularly in Greece their species make up for 95% of the total national fish production. With the recent tremendous growth of the Mediterranean fish industry during the last two decades, fish escape from sea cage facilities increases the pressure upon a forthcoming sustainable industry.Fish escapes have been reported for almost all the European farmed species, including sea bream and sea bass. Fish escapes disclose a considerable socio-economic effect to the relevant countries, with additional disclosed ecological and genetic impacts on the marine environment. As a considerable indirect effect from fish escape is the reduction on the fame of the industry and of course the loss of money and also several conflicts with groups related with the protection of the environment. Additionally, as the last stage, consumers might pay more for a fish that has been mistakenly considered as fisheries. Further, interaction with the wild stocks, interbreeding, food and mate competition and transfer of pathogen and parasites are major examples of serious environment interactions. The main cause of fish escape is a combination of structural failure of equipment with severe environmental conditions, such as strong winds and storms. Predators and pelagic animals attacking the offshore farm facilities are also another cause for fish escape. Recently, species-specific behavioral attributes have been also correlated with a potential risk of escape. Indeed, fish farmers have widely documented interactions towards the net pen, concerning net inspection and bite, mostly regarding Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and sea bream. These interactions, also called “pre-escape” behavior disclose a potential risk of net damage and a creation of a hole that will eventually lead to fish ...