Presentation of the guidelines on welfare in Spanish aquaculture for sea bass and gilt-head bream species.

These guidelines stem from the commitment of APROMAR, Compassion in World Farming, the Animal Welfare Observatory, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), and several scientific institutions to improve the welfare of fish in Spanish aquaculture.

At a significant event for the Spanish aquaculture industry on April 26th, the Guidelines on Welfare in Spanish Aquaculture for sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) species were unveiled. The edition and coordination of these guidelines were led by Dr. Pablo Arechavala from the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA CSIC-UIB).

These guidelines represent a significant milestone in the commitment to improve the welfare of fish in Spanish aquaculture, thanks to collaboration between APROMAR, Compassion in World Farming, the Animal Welfare Observatory, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), and various scientific institutions.

The development of these guidelines arises from the shared need to promote the welfare of fish in Spanish aquaculture, recognizing the evolution of knowledge and societal values in this field. One of the key strengths of these documents is their collaborative and cross-disciplinary approach, ensuring the rigor, comprehensiveness, and social coherence of their guidelines.

During the presentation event, the Director-General of Fisheries and Aquaculture Management at MAPA commended the collaborative effort that led to the drafting of these guidelines. Furthermore, Dr. Pablo Arechavala from IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), the editor, and coordinator of the guidelines' development, provided detailed explanations of their content.

These guidelines identify a series of welfare indicators and critical points in production systems, as well as describing practices to improve the rearing conditions of sea bass and gilt-head bream. They also offer training and communication proposals, along with an analysis of challenges and opportunities in the field.

Targeted especially at Spanish aquaculture companies and all industry professionals, these guidelines will also be of interest to public administrations, legislators, scientific-technological sectors, educational institutions, and society at large.

"The development of these guidelines represents a significant milestone not only for Spanish aquaculture but for society as a whole. It is the first time that all available and updated information on species-level welfare has been compiled into a single document (in this case, two). The content of each guide is based on current scientific knowledge, the experience of aquaculturists, and societal concerns. We hope that these documents will be highly useful and have a strong impact on all sectors interested in the welfare of fish in aquaculture," notes Pablo Arechavala.

Producers of sea bass and gilt-head bream in Spain, along with collaborating entities, recognize the importance of positioning themselves at the forefront of sustainable aquaculture in Europe, prioritizing fish welfare. In this context, the guidelines presented today are a crucial step, and it is expected that guidelines for other species, such as rainbow trout or turbot, will be developed in the coming year.

The development of these guidelines has been made possible thanks to funding from the Production and Marketing Plans of Fishermen's Producer Organizations No. 30-APROMAR, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Spain and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund of the European Union.

Access to the Guidelines: https://apromar.es/guia-bienestar/