Growth performance, gut microbiota composition, health and welfare of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed an environmentally and economically sustainable low marine protein diet in sea cages.

The large use of fish meal/fish oil in carnivorous fish feeds is the main concern regarding environmental sustainability of aquaculture. Here, we evaluated the effects of an innovative diet, designed to be (1) environmentally sustainable by lowering the marine protein content while being (2) cost effective by using sustainable alternative raw materials with acceptable cost and produced on an industrial scale, on growth performance, gut microbiota composition, health and welfare of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a key species of the Mediterranean marine aquaculture, reared in sea cages. Results show that the specific growth rate of fish fed the low marine protein diet was significantly lower than those fed conventional diet (0.

Life-cycle traits in the demosponge in a land-based fish farm.

Background: The demosponge is characterized by wide geographic distribution and great adaptability to numerous and highly variable climatic and hydrological conditions. Indeed, the species can colonize many different environments, including several unusual ones, such as concrete drainage conduits of a marine land-based fish farm plant. This research aimed to enhance existing knowledge on the reproductive cycle and growth performance of while also evaluating the impact of a controlled supply of trophic resources, wastewater flow and constant water temperature on these biological traits.

Movement patterns analysis as a tool in Fully Protected Areas design: Influence of relocations on travelled distances of Palinurus elephas (Fabr. 1787) in Sardinian FPAs (central-western Mediterranean).

Effectiveness of restocking programs in Marine Fully Protected Areas' (FPAs) can be highly affected by the movement behavior of the species to protect. We analyzed the data of 744 Palinurus elephas specimens tagged, relocated inside 12 FPAs, established in the seas surrounding Sardinia (central-western Mediterranean), and then recaptured. The overall aims were to characterize the individuals' movements after the relocation and to discuss strengths and weaknesses of the current FPAs' design.

Mapping the Energetic Costs of Free-Swimming Gilthead Sea Bream (), a Key Species in European Marine Aquaculture.

Measurement of metabolic rates provides a valuable proxy for the energetic costs of different living activities. However, such measurements are not easy to perform in free-swimming fish. Therefore, mapping acceleration from accelerometer tags with oxygen consumption rates (MO) is a promising method to counter these limitations and could represent a tool for remotely estimating MO in aquaculture environments.

Calibrating Accelerometer Tags with Oxygen Consumption Rate of Rainbow Trout () and Their Use in Aquaculture Facility: A Case Study.

Metabolic rates are linked to the energetic costs of different activities of an animal's life. However, measuring the metabolic rate in free-swimming fish remains challenging due to the lack of possibilities to perform these direct measurements in the field. Thus, the calibration of acoustic transmitters with the oxygen consumption rate (MO) could be promising to counter these limitations.

New insights into life-history traits of Mediterranean Electric rays (Torpediniformes: Torpedinidae) as a contribution to their conservation.

Despite being commonly recognized by the general public, knowledge about the biology and life-history of electric rays is still scarce. Globally, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, more of the 80% of the species belonging to the Torpedinidae family are, indeed, classified as Data Deficient, so as, in most of the cases, no proper management measures are available for the conservation of these species. For this reason, the main goal of this study is to provide new information on life-history traits of three species inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea.

Development of molecular and histological methods to evaluate stress oxidative biomarkers in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

In aquaculture, fish species may experience stressful episodes caused by poor farming conditions. The exponential increase of global aquaculture has raised the number of research studies aimed at demonstrating the sensitivity of aquatic animals in confined environments. The development of a real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry methods were investigated to evaluate the presence, localization, and quantity of biomarkers of oxidative stress in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

On the presence of (Storm, 1881) in the Central Mediterranean area.

The Norwegian skate (Storm, 1881) has only recently been recorded in the western Mediterranean Sea along the coast of southern Sardinia, off Algeria and the Alboran Sea. The present study confirmed the presence of the species in the Central Mediterranean Sea by identifying morphometric, morphological features and molecular markers. Biological sampling was conducted from 2010 to 2016 on eight specimens collected through commercial landings, offshore observer programmes and scientific surveys in Adriatic and Ionian waters at depths between 320 and 720 m.

Basic knowledge of social hierarchies and physiological profile of reared sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.).

The effects of social hierarchies (dominant/subordinate individuals), such as aggressiveness, feeding order, and territoriality, are some of the characteristics used for describing fish behaviour. Social hierarchy patterns are still poorly understood in European-reared sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). In this work, we examine the social interactions among captive fish integrating behavioural and physiological profiles.

A holistic approach to the age validation of Mullus barbatus L., 1758 in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean).

The growth of Mullus barbatus has been widely studied using different methods, but no previous study has focused on age validation. The uncertainty in estimating the age of the red mullet by otolith reading is linked to the number of false-growth increments laid down before the annulus. The capture of red mullets in the early life stage allowed us to estimate their size at the metamorphosis from the pelagic to the demersal phase.

Behavioural indicators of welfare in farmed fish.

Behaviour represents a reaction to the environment as fish perceive it and is therefore a key element of fish welfare. This review summarises the main findings on how behavioural changes have been used to assess welfare in farmed fish, using both functional and feeling-based approaches. Changes in foraging behaviour, ventilatory activity, aggression, individual and group swimming behaviour, stereotypic and abnormal behaviour have been linked with acute and chronic stressors in aquaculture and can therefore be regarded as likely indicators of poor welfare.