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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Cortisol Extraction from Sturgeon Fin and Jawbone Matrices
06:01

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Published on: September 10, 2019

Cortisol and finfish welfare.

Tim Ellis1, Hijran Yavuzcan Yildiz, Jose López-Olmeda

  • 1Cefas Weymouth Laboratory, Weymouth, Dorset, UK. tim.ellis@cefas.co.uk

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry
|November 25, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Cortisol levels in fish can indicate their psychological stress and feelings, offering insights into fish welfare beyond physiological responses. Careful measurement is needed to understand fish perception of their environment.

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Area of Science:

  • Animal Welfare Science
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Aquaculture Science

Background:

  • Previous research on fish stress hormones, like cortisol, primarily focused on physiological impacts relevant to aquaculture production.
  • Cortisol, a key component of the neuroendocrine stress response, influences fish physiology, brain function, and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of cortisol as an indicator of fish welfare, particularly concerning their psychological state and subjective experiences.
  • To explore the potential of cortisol measurements to reflect how fish perceive their environment and stressors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cortisol in fish, focusing on its relationship with welfare, behavior, and psychological stress.
  • Analysis of the limitations and practical considerations for using cortisol as a welfare indicator, including variations and confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • Cortisol's value as a welfare indicator is limited when viewed solely from a functional or behavioral perspective, as its response is adaptive and not always predictive of coping.
  • Cortisol can serve as a tractable, albeit cautious, indicator of fish psychological stress and feelings, especially in response to psychological stressors.

Conclusions:

  • Fish welfare should encompass mental health and feelings, viewing stress as psychological rather than purely physiological.
  • Further research is needed to differentiate psychological distress from physiological stress, chronic stress from acclimation, and to understand interactions between feelings, cortisol, mood, and behavior.