The composition and quality of feed in aquaculture systems has significant implications for fish health and welfare, with nutritional deficiencies causing a range of welfare problems.
Nutritional welfare in aquaculture is often overlooked compared to physical welfare indicators, but feed composition has profound effects on fish health and wellbeing. Nutritional deficiencies can cause painful, chronic conditions including cataracts, spinal deformities, and immune suppression that compromise welfare throughout the production cycle. The pressure to reduce feed costs creates risk that nutritional quality will be compromised to improve margins. High-quality aquaculture feed that meets the full nutritional requirements of target species at each life stage is a welfare necessity, not a luxury. Welfare assessment of aquaculture systems should include feed quality verification as a standard component.