Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Escape-related behavior and coping ability of sea bream due to food supply

  • Published:
Aquaculture International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Escape of fish is a significant problem for the sustainability of the aquaculture industry. In the Mediterranean Sea, sea bream (Sparus aurata) has been reported to escape from sea cage installations. However, the related factors leading to this behavior still remain unknown. This study focuses on the impact that the food supplied to sea bream has on its interaction with the net and therefore its escape behavior. We test three food ratios (2, 1 and 0 % of the total initial body weight; FC2, FC1 and FC0 populations, respectively) and three different conditions of the net (flawless mesh, mesh with a cut twine and mesh with a tear) that are commonly found in aquaculture. Data acquisition and analysis are carried out with a tailor-made system developed in our laboratory for this purpose. We demonstrate that food supply is associated with fish interactions and the aquaculture net, while net condition is also an important stimulus for sea bream inspection and biting the net. Limited-fed fish (FC1) are more prone to interact with the net, which consequently leads them to either bite net wears or escape through tears.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrew JE, Holm J, Kadri S, Huntingford FA (2004) The effect of competition on the feeding efficiency and feed handling behaviour in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) held in tanks. Aquaculture 232:317–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angeles Esteban M, Cuesta A, Rodrigez A, Mesegeur J (2003) Effect of photoperiod on the fish innate immune system: a link between fish pineal gland and the immune system. J Pineal Res 41:261–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjornsson B (1993) Swimming speed and swimming metabolism of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L., in relation to available food: a laboratory study. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 50:2542–2551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brick O, Jakobsson S (2002) Individual variation in risk taking: the effect of a predatory threat on fighting behavior in Nannacara anomala. Behav Ecol 13:439–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman K, Wilson DS (1998) Shyness and boldness in pumpkinseed sunfish: individual differences are context-specific. Anim Behav 56:927–936

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dempster T, Sanchez-Jerez P, Bayle-Sempere JT, Gimenez-Casalduero F, Valle C (2002) Attraction of wild fish to sea-cage fish farms in the south-western Mediterranean Sea: spatial and short-term temporal variability. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 242:237–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dempster T, Moe H, Fredheim A, Jensen Q, Sanchez-Jerez P (2007) Escapes of marine fish from sea-cage aquaculture in the Mediterranean Sea: status and prevention. In: Briand F (ed) Impact of mariculture on coastal ecosystems, Lisboa, 21–24 Feb., CIESM Workshop Monographs, No. 32, p 86

  • Divanach P, Kentouri M (2000) Hatchery techniques for specific diversification in mediterranean finfish larviculture. In: Basurco B (ed) Mediterranean marine aquaculture finfish species diversification. Cahiers options mediterraneennes, vol 47. C.I.H.E.A.M, Zaragoza, pp 75–87

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2009) The state of food insecurity in the world. Economic crisis-impacts and lessons learned. FAO Electronic Publishing Policy and Support Branch Communication Division Production, Rome 61 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2010) Synthesis of Mediterranean marine finfish aquaculture—a marketing and promotion strategy. Studies and Reviews. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. No. 88 Rome, p 198

  • Goldan O, Popper D, Karplus I (2003) Food competition in small groups of juvenile gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Israeli J Aquac Bamidgeh 55:94–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen LA, Dale T, Damsgard B, Uglem I, Kare A, Bjorn PA (2009) Escape-related behaviour of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., in a simulated farm situation. Aquac Res 40:26–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen Ø, Dempster T, Thorstad EB, Uglem I, Fredheim A (2010) Escapes of fishes from Norwegian sea-cage aquaculture: causes, consequences and prevention. Aquac Environ Interact 1:71–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson D, Ruohonen K, Kiessling A, Oppedal F, Stiansen JE, Kelly M, Juell JE (2006) Effect of environmental factors on swimming depth preferences of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., and temporal and spatial variations in oxygen levels in sea cages at a fjord site. Aquaculture 254:594–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston DW (2002) The effect of acoustic harassment devices on harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the bay of Fundy, Canada. Biol Conserv 118:113–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karplus I, Popper D, Goldan O (2000) The effect of food competition and relative size of group numbers on growth of juvenile gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Fish Physiol Biochem 22:119–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kojima T, Kawabe R, Shirasu K, Naito Y (2006) Preliminary study on heartbeats ans swimming behavior of free-ranging fish, red sea bream Pagrus major, measured with newly developed micro data-logger. Polar Biosci 16:104–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Koolhaas JM, Korte SM, De Boer SF, Van Der Vegt BJ, Van Reenen CG, Hopster H, De Jonga IC, Ruis MAW, Blokhuis HJ (1999) Coping styles in animals: current status in behaviour and stress-physiology. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 23:925–935

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kristiansen TS, Ferno A (2007) Individual behaviour and growth of halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) fed sinking and floating feed: evidence of different coping styles. Appl Animal Behav Sci 104:236–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mancera JM, Vargas-Chacoff L, Garcia-Lopez A, Kleszczynska A, Kalamarz H, Martinez-Rodriguez G, Kulczykoska E (2008) High density and food deprivation affect arginine vasotocin, isotocin and melatonin in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Comp Biochem Physiol Part A 149(28):92–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGinnity P, Diserud O, Hindar K, Fleming I (2006) Genetic and ecological effects of salmon farming on wild salmon: modeling from experimental results. J Marine Sci 63:1234–1247

    Google Scholar 

  • Moe H, Dempster T, Sunde MJ, Winther U, Fredheim A (2007) Technological solutions and operational measures to prevent escapes of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., from sea cages. Aquac Res 38:91–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montero D, Lalumera G, Izquierdo MS, Caballero MJ, Saroglia M, Tort L (2009) Establishment of dominance relationships in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) juveniles during feeding: effects on feeding behaviour, feed utilization and fish health. J Fish Biol 74:790–805

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naylor RL, Goldburg RJ, Primavera JH, Kautsky N, Beveridge MCM, Clay J, Folke C, Lubchenco J, Mooney H, Troell M (2000) Effect of aquaculture on world fish supplies. Nature 405:1017–1024

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norwegians Fisheries Directorate: Norwegian aquacultures Statistics (2007) http://www.fiskeridir.no/english/statistics/booklets/aquacultural-booklets

  • Papadakis VM, Papadakis IE, Lamprianidou F, Glaropoulos A, Kentouri M (2012) A computer-vision system and methodology for the analysis of fish behavior. Aquac Eng 46:53–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papoutsoglou SE, Tziha G, Vrettos X, Athanasiou A (1998) Effects of stocking density on behavior and growth rate of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles reared in a closed circulated system. Aquac Eng 18:135–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual P, Pedrajas JR, Toribio F, Lopez-Barea J, Peinado J (2003) Effect of food deprivation on oxidative stress biomarkers in fish (Sparus aurata). Chem Biol Interact 45:191–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pita C, Gamito S, Erzini K (2002) Feeding habits of the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) from the Ria Formosa (southern Portugal) as compared to the black sea bream (Spondyliosoma Cantharus) and the annular sea bream (Diplopodus annularis). J Appl Ichthyol 18:81–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sangiao-Alvarellos S, Guzman JM, Laiz-Carrion R, Miguez JM, Del Rio MP, Mancera JM, Soengas J (2005) Interactive effects of high stocking density and food deprivation on carbohydrate metabolism in several tissues of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). J Exp Zool Part A Comp Exp Biol 303A:761–775

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte PM (2008) How fish cope with changing environments: insights from comparative genomics. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 148:462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skajaa K, Brownman HI (2007) The escape response of food-deprived cod larvae, Gadus morhua L. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 353:135–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sneddon LU (2003) The bold and the shy: individual differences in rainbow trout. J Fish Biol 62:971–975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sogard SM, Olla BL (1996) Food deprivation affects vertical distribution and activity of a marine fish in a thermal gradient: potential energy-conserving mechanisms. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 133:43–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stien LH, Bratland S, Austevoll I, Oppedal F, Kristiansen TS (2007) A video analysis procedure for assessing vertical fish distribution in aquaculture tanks. Aquac Eng 37:115–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tancioni L, Mariani S, Maccaroni A, Mariani A, Massa F, Scardi M, Cataudella S (2003) Locality-specific variation in the feeding of (Sparus aurata); evidence from two Mediterranean lagoon systems. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 57:469–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uglem I, Bjorn PA, Dale T, Kerwath S, Okland F, Nilsen R, Aas K, Fleming I, McKinley RS (2008) Movements and spatiotemporal distribution of escaped farmed and local wild Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L. Aquac Res 39:158–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yacoob SY, Brownman HJ (2007) Prey extracts evoke swimming behaviour in juvenile Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Aquaculture 270:570–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study has been financially supported by the Commission of the European Communities under the Seventh Research Framework Program “Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnology, Area 2.1.2 Increased sustainability of all production systems (agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture); plant health and crop protection”, 226885 “PREVENT ESCAPE—Assessing the causes and developing measures to prevent the escape of fish from sea cage aquaculture”. The authors would like to thank the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR) for providing us the sea bream and also Dr. David Gray for his assistance with English and his fruitful discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Alexios Glaropoulos, Vassilis M. Papadakis, Ioannis E. Papadakis & Maroudio Kentouri

  2. Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology, P.O. Box 1385, 71110, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Vassilis M. Papadakis

  3. Institute of Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Ioannis E. Papadakis

Authors
  1. Alexios Glaropoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vassilis M. Papadakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ioannis E. Papadakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maroudio Kentouri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maroudio Kentouri.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Glaropoulos, A., Papadakis, V.M., Papadakis, I.E. et al. Escape-related behavior and coping ability of sea bream due to food supply. Aquacult Int 20, 965–979 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-012-9521-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-012-9521-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation