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Updated: Nov 7, 2025

A Standardized Protocol for Preference Testing to Assess Fish Welfare
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Physical enrichment research for captive fish: Time to focus on the DETAILS.

Nick A R Jones1, Mike M Webster1, Anne Gro Vea Salvanes2

  • 1Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.

Journal of Fish Biology
|May 4, 2021
PubMed
Summary

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Physical enrichment (PE) can improve fish welfare, but results vary. Detailed reporting of enrichment characteristics is needed to understand these variations and enhance fish well-being and research validity.

Area of Science:

  • Aquatic animal welfare science
  • Ethology
  • Aquaculture research

Background:

  • Physical enrichment (PE) is increasingly used to improve fish welfare and research validity.
  • However, inconsistent findings highlight the need to understand factors influencing PE effectiveness.
  • Variability in PE item characteristics may explain differing outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the methodological reporting standards of physical enrichment in fish research.
  • To identify common omissions in the description of enrichment items.
  • To propose a framework for improving reporting and standardization.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic survey of physical enrichment studies published in the last five years.
  • Analysis of reported details concerning enrichment items, including dimensions, amount, and ecological relevance.
Keywords:
environmental complexityenvironmental enrichmentfish husbandryfish welfarestructural complexitystructural enrichment

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  • Identification of frequently omitted methodological information.

    • Main Results:

    • Many studies inadequately detail key aspects of physical enrichment items.
    • Omissions commonly include the amount and dimensions of enrichment objects.
    • The ecological relevance or justification for enrichment choices is often not explicitly stated.

    Conclusions:

    • Improved and standardized reporting of physical enrichment methods is crucial.
    • The proposed DETAILS framework (Dimensions, Ecological rationale, Timing, Amount, Inputs, Lighting, Social environment) can guide future research.
    • Enhanced reporting will facilitate the identification of optimal PE strategies for fish welfare and behavior.