MyFishCheck: A Model to Assess Fish Welfare in Aquaculture
Linda Tschirren,
David Bachmann,
Ali Cem Güler,
Oliver Blaser,
Nicola Rhyner,
Andreas Seitz,
Erich Zbinden,
Thomas Wahli,
Helmut Segner,
Dominik Refardt
Affiliations
Linda Tschirren
Research Group for Aquaculture Systems, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
David Bachmann
Research Group for Aquaculture Systems, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
Ali Cem Güler
Research Group for Aquaculture Systems, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
Oliver Blaser
Research Group for Aquaculture Systems, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
Nicola Rhyner
Research Group for Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
Andreas Seitz
Research Group for Aquaculture Systems, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
Erich Zbinden
Research Group for Knowledge Engineering, Institute of Applied Simulation, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
Thomas Wahli
Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Berne, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Helmut Segner
Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Berne, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Dominik Refardt
Research Group for Aquaculture Systems, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
Welfare in animal husbandry includes considerations of biology, ethics, ecology, law and economics. These diverse aspects must be translated into common quantifiable parameters and applicable methods to objectively assess welfare in animals. To assist this process in the field of aquaculture, where such methods are largely missing, we developed a model to assess fish welfare. A network of information was created to link needs, i.e., fundamental requirements for welfare, with parameters, i.e., quantifiable aspects of welfare. From this ontology, 80 parameters that are relevant for welfare, have practicable assessment methods and deliver reliable results were selected and incorporated into a model. The model, named MyFishCheck, allows the evaluation of welfare in five distinct modules: farm management, water quality, fish group behaviour, fish external and fish internal appearance, thereby yielding five individual grades categorising welfare ranging from critical, to poor, to acceptable, and good. To facilitate the use of the model, a software application was written. With its adaptability to different fish species, farming systems, regulations and purposes as well as its user-friendly digital version, MyFishCheck is a next step towards improved fish welfare assessment and provides a basis for ongoing positive developments for the industry, the farmers and the fish.
