Early-life environmental enrichment promotes positive animal welfare for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in aquaculture research.

ABSTRACT: Early life experiences have long-lasting effects on behaviour and physiology, influencing development of adaptive natural behaviours. Enriching farmed environments encourages expression of natural behaviours in captive fish, promoting positive animal welfare, important for conducting valid and reproducible research and informing better management practices. Using juvenile Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), we tested whether provision of environmental enrichment in early life improves welfare. Welfare indicators were measured comparing enriched to non-enriched tanks. Morphological (fin damage and body condition), physiological (plasma cortisol) and behavioural traits (activity, group cohesion, and neophobia) were recorded. Molecular expression of brain mRNA transcripts related to stress respons

SUBMITTER: Prentice PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11836395 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature