Publication: Cortisol and finfish welfare
Authors
Ellis, Tim ; Yavuzcan, Hijran ; López Olmeda, José Fernando ; Spedicato, Maria Teresa ; Tort, Lluis ; Overli, Oyvind ; Martins, Catarina
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Publisher
Springer
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-011-9568-y
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
©<2012>. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ccby/4.0/
This document is the acepted version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in [Fish Physiology and Biochemistry]. To access the final edited and published work see [https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s10695-011-9568-y]
Abstract
Previous reviews of stress, and the stress hormone cortisol, in fish have focussed on physiology, due to interest
in impacts on aquaculture production. Here, we discuss cortisol in relation to fish welfare. Cortisol is a readily
measured component of the primary (neuroendocrine) stress response and is relevant to fish welfare as it
affects physiological and brain functions and modifies behaviour. However, we argue that cortisol has little
value if welfare is viewed purely from a functional (or behavioural) perspective—the cortisol response itself
is a natural, adaptive response and is not predictive of coping as downstream impacts on function and
behaviour are dose-, time- and context-dependent and not predictable. Nevertheless, we argue that welfare
should be considered in terms of mental health and feelings, and that stress in relation to welfare should be
viewed as psychological, rather than physiological. We contend that cortisol can be used (with caution) as a
tractable indicator of how fish perceive (and feel about) their environment, psychological stress and feelings
in fish. Cortisol responses are directly triggered by the brain and fish studies do indicate cortisol responses
to psychological stressors, i.e., those with no direct physicochemical action. We discuss the practicalities of
using cortisol to ask the fish themselves how they feel about husbandry practices and the culture environment.
Single time point measurements of cortisol are of little value in assessing the stress level of fish as studies
need to account for diurnal and seasonal variations, and environmental and genetic factors. Areas in need of
greater clarity for the use of cortisol as an indicator of fish feelings are the separation of (physiological) stress
from (psychological) distress, the separation of chronic stress from acclimation, and the interactions between
feelings, cortisol, mood and behaviour.
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Citation
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 38, 163–188 (2012)
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