农林科学最新文献

{"title":"Health, microbiota, and water quality analysis: A case study in a commercial recirculating aquaculture system for yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi).","authors":"Katerina Loufi ,&nbsp;Julia Hassa ,&nbsp;Eric Hernández ,&nbsp;Marit Stormoen ,&nbsp;Deni Ribičić ,&nbsp;Stamatios Kapasakis ,&nbsp;Tobias Busche ,&nbsp;Jörn Kalinowski ,&nbsp;Pavlos Makridis ,&nbsp;Roman Netzer ,&nbsp;Elia Ciani","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742851","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742851","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study describes the temporal and spatial dynamics of microbiota composition, water quality parameters and fish health status in a commercial Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for yellowtail kingfish (<em>Seriola lalandi</em>) spanning from April to November 2021. Water quality was effectively controlled, with key parameters such as CO₂, pH, temperature, nitrogen compounds and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) consistently maintained within safety thresholds reported in the literature. Microbiota composition was analyzed in various fish tissues and RAS components using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The predominant genera in RAS samples (tank water, tank wall biofilm, biofilter biofilm, and denitrification unit) included <em>Erythrobacter</em>, <em>Glaciecola</em>, and <em>Nitrospira</em>. In contrast, fish tissue samples (gills, intestine, and skin) were mainly colonized by <em>Aliivibrio</em>, <em>Pseudomonas</em>, and an uncultured genus from the <em>Mycoplasmataceae</em> family. Cluster analysis revealed similarities in bacterial composition between tank water and external fish tissues (skin and gills), with variations over time corresponding to changes in water parameters. Digital PCR assays were developed to target specific fish pathogens such as <em>Vibrio harveyi</em>, <em>Vibrio anguillarum</em>, and <em>Photobacterium damselae piscicida</em>, revealing low or undetectable pathogen levels throughout most of the monitoring period. In tank water, these species showed the highest concentration in August and September. A Multiparametric Semi-quantitative Scoring System (MSSS) was developed for histological examination of gills, intestine, liver, spleen, and kidney. Increased inflammation coincided with higher pathogen presence in the water. However, no clinical signs of vibriosis or pasteurellosis were detected, indicating overall good fish health and a robust immune system. This integrated approach - combining innovative pathogen-specific digital PCR assays, MSSS histological scoring and microbiota profiling offers a valuable framework for monitoring fish health and optimizing production quality in kingfish farming within RAS environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742851"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proline improves intestinal damage induced by hibernation stress through Nrf2/Ho-1/p65 signaling pathway in Pelodiscus sinensis","authors":"Jiaxiang Luo ,&nbsp;Jiacheng Pan ,&nbsp;Haoran Song ,&nbsp;Gaoliang Cao ,&nbsp;Xinyi Zhang ,&nbsp;Wei Wang ,&nbsp;Guoying Qian ,&nbsp;Haiqi Zhang ,&nbsp;Caiyan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The object of this study was to assess the impact of proline (Pro) supplementation on mediating hibernation induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in turtle and to explore the underling mechanisms. <em>Pelodiscus sinensis</em> were given a simulated hibernation experiment for 4 weeks, followed by feeding the control (Con) diet and Pro diet for 4 weeks. Results showed that the turtles fed of Pro diet significantly enhanced the feed intake and intestinal Pro deposition, while increased the villus height, crypt depth and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in intestine of turtles. Pro significantly facilitated the conversion of intestinal type II and III goblet cells to type I goblet cells, and markedly upregulated the expression of <em>muc-2, zo-1</em>, <em>claudin-1, claudin-3</em>, the key gene associated with the intestinal barrier, as well as restrained the expression of <em>mlck</em>. Moreover, Tunel-immunohistochemical analysis showed that Pro diet significantly reduced the number of intestinal late apoptotic cell, and levels of pro-apoptosis and pro-inflammation related genes in Pro treatment were significantly lowered than those in Con treatment. Furthermore, Nf-κB p65 serves as a pivotal transcription factor in activating apoptosis and inflammation, and its expression can be regulated by Nrf2/HO-1. Pro significantly upregulated the protein levels of total-Nrf2, nuclear-Nrf2, and HO-1, while simultaneously suppressing the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in the intestine of turtles. These findings revealed the underling mechanism of action of Pro in hibernation stress of <em>P. sinensis</em>, confirming that Pro increased Nrf2 and HO-1 that, which subsequently suppresses the Nf-κB p65 in intestine thereby reducing inflammation and apoptosis, and thus alleviated intestinal tight junction dysfunction and barrier damage of <em>P. sinensis</em> caused by hibernation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742891"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144510832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Two CqCofilins inhibit WSSV infection by binding with Cqβ-actin cytoskeleton in Cherax quadricarinatus","authors":"Wei-dong Li ,&nbsp;Jiao-yang Xu ,&nbsp;Chuang Cui ,&nbsp;Hai-peng Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742894","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742894","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cofilin, a key regulator of the cytoskeleton, orchestrates multiple critical cellular processes, including endocytosis, cell migration, and adhesion, by facilitating the depolymerization of actin filaments. Based on our prior transcriptomic library of differentially expressed genes from the hematopoietic tissue (Hpt) cells of <em>Cherax quadricarinatus</em>, the expression profiles of Cofilin1 and Cofilin2 were downregulated following white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. Nonetheless, the role of <em>Cq</em>Cofilins in the context of WSSV infection remains poorly understood and warrants further investigation. In this study, the full-length cDNA sequences of the <em>CqCofilin1</em> and <em>CqCofilin2</em> genes were cloned and characterized. Both genes exhibit an open reading frame (ORF) of 444 bp, which encode a polypeptide of 147 amino acids, and contain an actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) homology domain. Localization studies revealed that <em>Cq</em>Cofilin1 and <em>Cq</em>Cofilin2 were localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and were ubiquitously expressed across all examined crayfish tissues, with notably higher expression levels observed in nerve tissue, hemocytes, and Hpt. Gene silencing of either <em>CqCofilin1</em> or <em>CqCofilin2</em> led to a notable increase in WSSV internalization and a significant upregulation of viral genes like <em>IE1</em> and <em>VP28</em> in Hpt cells. The introduction of recombinant <em>Cq</em>Cofilin1 or <em>Cq</em>Cofilin2 proteins resulted in a significant reduction in WSSV replication. Moreover, Alphafold 3 analysis prediction and protein pull-down assay elucidated the interaction between <em>Cq</em>Cofilin1, <em>Cq</em>Cofilin2, and <em>Cq</em>β-actin. These findings suggest that <em>Cq</em>Cofilins, as members of the actin depolymerization factor family, function conservatively to bind <em>Cq</em>β-actin and promote cytoskeletal disassembly, a process that might hinder WSSV internalization, and which offers novel insights into host resistance mechanisms against WSSV infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742894"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exosomal miR-4171-x contributes to T helper II cell immune response by regulating the Gata-3 expression in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)","authors":"Xueyan Shi ,&nbsp;Lixia Jiang ,&nbsp;Heng Chi ,&nbsp;Roy Ambli Dalmo ,&nbsp;Xiaoqian Tang ,&nbsp;Jing Xing ,&nbsp;Xiuzhen Sheng ,&nbsp;Wenbin Zhan","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742930","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742930","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exosomes are recognized for their function as facilitators of intercellular communication and regulators of immune responses. However, the specific contributions of exosomes to the host's immune response against pathogens, especially concerning T cell immunity, remain inadequately elucidated in teleost fish. This study characterized exosomal miRNAs from the peritoneal cavity of flounder (<em>Paralichthys olivaceus</em>) challenged with <em>Vibrio anguillarum</em>. Exosomes isolated from uninfected and <em>V. anguillarum</em>-challenged flounder exhibited typical cup-shaped morphology and size distribution, and were further confirmed by the expression of exosomal markers (Cd9, Cd81, and Tsg101). miRNA transcriptome sequencing revealed that the expression profiles of 69 exosomal miRNAs exhibited significant alterations when comparing the infected group to the control group. Specifically, 49 miRNAs were found to be significantly upregulated, while 20 miRNAs were significant downregulation. Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that the predicted target genes of these significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in various immune processes, including signaling pathways related to T cell immune response. Functional studies identified exosomal miR-4171-x as a critical regulator, which mechanistically targets <em>gata3—</em>the master transcriptional regulator of Th2 cell differentiation. These findings provided novel insights into host-pathogen interactions and may inform future strategies for improving disease resistance in aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742930"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced deep OC-SORT with YOLOv8-seg for robust fry tracking and behavior analysis in aquaculture","authors":"Chenli Xi ,&nbsp;Meng Cui ,&nbsp;Jingtao Yin ,&nbsp;Hao Gu ,&nbsp;Ting Ouyang ,&nbsp;Juan Feng ,&nbsp;Lihua Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742887","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742887","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fast and accurate detection and tracking of fry (newly hatched fish) are critical for improving aquaculture efficiency and product quality. While multi-object tracking (MOT) algorithms have become effective for fry behavior analysis, they often struggle with occlusions, rapid movements, and maintaining consistent identities due to the small size and similar appearance of fry. To address these limitations, we propose an innovative method that combines detection, segmentation, and multi-object tracking. Our approach utilizes an improved YOLOv8-seg algorithm for detection and segmentation, enhanced with the STA attention mechanism, CFP centralized feature pyramid, and GSConv lightweight convolution technology. We augment Deep OC-SORT with a novel Segmentation-Enhanced Trajectory Interpolation method for multi-object tracking. This method incorporates mask-guided centroid interpolation, contour interpolation, and occlusion-aware adjustment, significantly improving tracking consistency during occlusions and rapid movements. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved YOLOv8-seg algorithm achieved detection accuracy on par with the original model while improving speed by 10 % and attained a mean average precision (mAP) of 94.3 % in fry segmentation, surpassing the original YOLOv8 algorithm by 1.8 %. The enhanced Deep OC-SORT tracking method attained 74.3 % MOTA with significantly reduced ID switches, outperforming common SOTA tracking algorithms (e.g., Deep SORT, OC-SORT, ByteTrack) and ensuring reliable individual fry tracking over time. In addition, we conducted a temperature control experiment studying the behavioral responses of <em>Micropterus salmoides</em> fry under different temperature conditions, providing a robust foundation for improved aquaculture management strategies. The source codes and pre-trained models are available at: <span><span>https://github.com/Zeng832/Fry-Tracking</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742887"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Histological, ultrastructural, and multi-omic integration analysis on the response mechanisms of Acipenser dabryanus to hypoxia and reoxygenation","authors":"Yeyu Chen ,&nbsp;Xiaoyun Wu ,&nbsp;Pengcheng Li ,&nbsp;Jiansheng Lai ,&nbsp;Luyun Ni ,&nbsp;Zhao Liu ,&nbsp;Mingjiang Song ,&nbsp;Feiyang Li ,&nbsp;Quan Gong","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742890","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742890","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypoxia is a global issue affecting aquaculture because of increasingly serious environmental pollution. Revealing the changes in the physiological function of fish and the molecular mechanisms after hypoxic stress is key to avoiding damage from hypoxia. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of hypoxia and reoxygenation on <em>Acipenser dabryanus</em> using histological, ultrastructural, biochemical, and multi-omic analyses. Histological studies showed that the skin and muscle were damaged to different degrees after hypoxia and that the tissue structure returned to normal after reoxygenation. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the morphology of mitochondria-rich and pavement cells in the gills of the hypoxic group was significantly altered and damaged. The activities of serum superoxide dismutase and liver lactate dehydrogenase increased after hypoxia. Transcriptome sequencing of the liver and gills identified numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the hypoxia and control groups, whereas the number of DEGs in the reoxygenation versus control group was significantly reduced. DEGs enriched in cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, the HIF-1 signalling pathway, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis may play important roles in the response to hypoxic stress. Differentially expressed metabolites and proteins screened by metabolomics and proteomics confirmed the transcriptomic results. The combined analysis of multi-omics showed that glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolism was upregulated after hypoxia to increase glucose production to obtain more energy under hypoxic environment. Muti-omics analysis also revealed the enhancement of glycerophospholipid metabolism which might be a self-protection mechanism to maintain the stability of the cell membrane against hypoxic stress. This study provided meaningful insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of hypoxic stress and reoxygenation in fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742890"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular mechanisms of cold stress-induced energy stress, cholesterol metabolic disorders, and apoptosis in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus","authors":"Dongjie Wang ,&nbsp;Min Li ,&nbsp;Min Liao ,&nbsp;Yao Tian ,&nbsp;Qing Wu ,&nbsp;Shaolin Xie ,&nbsp;Wei Luo ,&nbsp;Jixing Zou ,&nbsp;Jun Shi ,&nbsp;Zongjun Du","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, and apoptosis are key physiological responses to cold stress in fish. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes and their interactions remain insufficiently understood, particularly regarding their molecular interactions. In this study, we integrated physiological, histological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic approaches to reveal the molecular responses of the cold-sensitive <em>Pangasianodon hypophthalmus</em> (13.52 ± 1.54 g) to programmed cooling (25 °C, 20 °C, 15 °C). Our results demonstrate that cold stress induces energy stress, cholesterol metabolism disorder, and apoptosis in <em>P. hypophthalmus</em>. Specifically, it manifests as increased serum antioxidant activity, decreased cholesterol levels, tissue damage in the gills, liver, and muscle accompanied by elevated apoptotic signals, ultrastructural damage to hepatic mitochondria, and a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis identified AMPK, PPAR, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, cholesterol metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, bile secretion, and intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis pathways as key pathways of energy metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, and apoptosis under cold stress. Inhibition of AMPK and PPAR signaling pathways, along with disrupted cholesterol metabolism, represents a major factor contributing to cold stress intolerance in <em>P. hypophthalmus</em>. Inhibition of cholesterol synthesis during cold stress, likely through suppression of the <em>hmgcr</em>, was central to cholesterol metabolic disturbances. Under cold stress, concurrent inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR, cholesterol metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, and bile secretion pathways reshaped energy metabolism to accommodate increased energy demands. When the AMPK pathway is inhibited, <em>p53</em> may also function to suppress biosynthetic processes, thereby maintaining a specific metabolic state under cold stress. The results of qPCR and Western blot further support the reliability of our conclusions. In summary, these findings clarify the regulatory mechanisms and interactions among energy metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, and apoptosis in <em>P. hypophthalmus</em> under cold stress, providing a basis for enhancing fish resilience to cold stress challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742886"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced T-cell activation and effector functions contribute to disease resistance in Streptococcus agalactiae-resistant tilapia","authors":"Ming Geng ,&nbsp;Jingfeng Ding ,&nbsp;Jun Xiao ,&nbsp;Liting Chen ,&nbsp;Jiansong Zhang ,&nbsp;Kang Li ,&nbsp;Jie Cheng ,&nbsp;Yi Cao ,&nbsp;Jialong Yang ,&nbsp;Xiumei Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742903","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742903","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the considerable challenges posed by frequent <em>Streptococcus agalactiae</em> infections in tilapia aquaculture, we previously developed a strain of tilapia with enhanced resistance to this pathogen. Understanding the immune mechanisms behind this resistance is essential for advancing selective breeding strategies. This study concentrates on T-cell activation and effector function to explore the reasons for the more robust immunity in <em>S. agalactiae</em>-resistant tilapia. Through RNA-seq and immunological assays, we demonstrated that resistant tilapia possessed a higher proportion of T cells and enhanced T-cell effector functions compared to susceptible tilapia. Upon <em>in vitro</em> stimulation with anti-tilapia CD3ε plus CD28 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), or <em>in vivo</em> infection with <em>S. agalactiae</em>, spleen leukocytes from resistant tilapia showed significantly enhanced degrees of Erk1/2 and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation, which are classical signaling pathway of T-cell activation. Once activated, spleen lymphocytes from resistant tilapia expressed higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-2, as well as cytotoxic molecule perforin A. Moreover, CD4–1⁺ T cells in the resistant tilapia produced greater amounts of interferon (IFN)-γ, suggesting their superior T-cell effector functions. These findings collectively illustrate how enhanced T-cell activation and effector responses facilitate the optimized immune defenses of resistant tilapia. By shedding light on these mechanisms, our findings provide a valuable foundation for refining breeding programs aimed at increasing disease resistance in aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742903"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144518853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sideways exit during crowding utilises natural salmon behaviour for easier transfer","authors":"F. Warren-Myers ,&nbsp;O. Folkedal ,&nbsp;V. Nola ,&nbsp;F. Oppedal","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742939","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742939","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Efficient crowding of fish in sea cages for the purpose of transferring them to fasting, treatments or slaughter, is critical for insuring fish are moved quickly with minimal stress. With the development of larger offshore cages holding millions of fish and/or submerged cage salmon aquaculture, extraction of fish will potentially be more difficult. Particularly if farmers seek to remove portions of the biomass at a time without lifting cages to the surface. Using salmon innate swimming behaviours may aid to develop innovative, simple, welfare-friendly removal methods. Here we investigate whether the direction of crowding in a submerged cage influences the exit behaviour of salmon when extracted at depth for the purpose of pumping to a well-boat or otherwise. Using replicates of 46 large (∼4.3 kg) or 128 small (∼1.3 kg) Atlantic salmon and a prototype submerged cube cage (27 m³) fitted with a movable wall, we test to see if crowding salmon towards a 50 cm diameter circular opening in either the top, side, or bottom of the cage influences fish exit rate. Our results show that when crowding fish by incrementally reducing the cage volume by a factor of 12 over 25 mins, for both fish sizes ∼80 % of fish exited the cage via sideways crowding, whereas only 20 to 50 % exited by top up or bottom down crowding directions. Furthermore, maximum relative fish densities reached during crowding tests were almost halved for sidewards crowding (37–43 kg m⁻³) compared to downwards or upwards crowding directions (59–73 kg m⁻³). We conclude that fish visualization of the exit hole and their natural circular swimming behaviour favoured sideways extraction. Hence, with a sea cage design that enables sideways crowding, it may be possible to extract fish quickly with minimal stress, and without needing to raise cages to the surface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742939"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study of consumer perceptions of sustainable fishery products","authors":"G. Cantos,&nbsp;C. Fuentes,&nbsp;I. Fernández-Segovia,&nbsp;A. Fuentes","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Consumers' concern about the environmental impact has triggered the need for available information on aspects related to the sustainability of the food products. Companies show consumers their environmental commitment and sustainability through certifications and sustainability labels. The present study aims to: (i) evaluate the presence of sustainability labels on the aquaculture and wild-caught fish products commercialised in Spain; (ii) study consumers' knowledge of sustainability seals; (iii) analyse the main aspects that affect the purchase decisions of sustainable food products. The supply of fish and fishery products was determined by market research. A consumer opinion survey was performed to assess labelling relevance, knowledge about sustainability labels and purchasing preferences. In Spain, sustainability labels appear on more than one third of fish products, with large differences found between different retailers. More than half of the products sold in German discount stores featured some sustainability label, a figure three times higher than the rate of products found in the Spanish supermarkets. The consumer survey showed that most Spanish consumers do not regularly check labelling information related to the environment and animal welfare, and they are largely unaware of the meaning of sustainability labels. Nonetheless, the conjoint analysis showed that the presence of sustainability seals enhances fish product purchases, especially for aquaculture products. These results demonstrate that marine sustainability seals and certifications can be used by the fish industry to increase purchase intention and to revalorise their products. However, informing consumers about the meaning and importance of these certifications is still necessary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742926"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144579903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}