| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the welfare of the lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) by studying fish behaviour in different habitats, consisting of artificial and natural seaweed hides. Substrates and hides are essential for lumpfish to maintain a good welfare, as well as that the environmental parameters are met. To the knowledge of the author there is currently no published research of lumpfish health conditions and natural seaweed hides. A few articles have focused on different types of artificial hides, such as PVC hides, plastic hides, car tyres, concrete tubes and stones, looking at fish preferences. Here, an experiment was carried out exposing lumpfish to different habitats: natural seaweed hides (Saccharina latissima and Laminaria hyperborea) and artificial hide (artificial seaweed made from PVC). The condition factor, the behavior and the external damages were assessed during the study, which was carried out from December 2020 to March 2021.
No significant differences were found in the condition factor of the different groups, indicating that the different hide conditions did not impact nutritional status of the fish. The monitoring of the fish behaviour was carried out using cameras and showed no significant differences among the groups. The only differences were found in fish after two months (T2) between the group with the Saccharina hide and Laminaria hide, and in fish after three months (T3) between the Saccharina and the artificial hide groups. Results varied between periods, thus differences in habitat can not be concluded. What the camera monitoring clearly shows, is that the fish utilizes the hides provided to rest and hide in. Significant difference in total injuries was found between the Saccharina hide and the Laminaria hide groups after three months (T3), indicating less damages in the Laminaria group. There were no significant differences on total injuries after one (T1) and two months (T2). The injury assessment represent a first attempt to give a qualitative support information and more data would need to be collected in order to provide solid conclusions using this information. This study cannot conclude that there were any correlations between type of hide, fish condition and external damages, and more studies need to be conducted order to conclude if there is any impact on behaviour and welfare to the selected groups of hide.
Preliminary trials of Saccharina latissima were seeded indoors, in order to test the possibility of cultivation of natural shelters. The seaweed showed good growth, especially in trial 2, and could be a good option to utilize as a hide along with fish in fish farms. The seaweed cultivation could further be used in integration with fish, adding oxygen to the seawater and removing nutrient waste from fish, while giving the seaweed nutrient source. | |
