Aquaculture

Meagre Welfare in Atlantic Aquaculture

Meagre is an emerging premium aquaculture species in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and its welfare requirements are being researched as the industry develops.

Key Facts

Meagre is a large marine fish growing to over 50 kg in the wild and 3-5 kg at harvest in aquaculture
Commercial aquaculture is developing in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Morocco
Meagre are sensitive to handling stress and show pronounced cortisol responses to disturbance
They can produce a distinctive 'drumming' sound using their swim bladder, which may indicate stress

Welfare Considerations

Welfare concerns in meagre aquaculture include sensitivity to handling and crowding stress, aggressive interactions in high-density systems causing fin erosion and injuries, inadequate stunning at slaughter, and poor water quality management in intensive systems. The species' vocal behaviour may provide a non-invasive welfare indicator that researchers are beginning to explore.

What You Can Do

Support research into meagre-specific welfare indicators including acoustic signals
Advocate for welfare criteria in Atlantic meagre aquaculture certification
Choose meagre from certified producers demonstrating responsible welfare management
Support development of species-appropriate stunning protocols for meagre at slaughter