Development of welfare protocols in the Brazilian tilapia based on the welfare quality approach

• Grant number: 23/06381-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: October 10, 2023
• End date: December 10, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Guilherme Wolff Bueno
• Grantee: Tavani Rocha Camargo
• Supervisor: Antoni Dalmau Bueno
• Host Institution: Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentarias, Monells (IRTA), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/02988-0 - Bioinnovation and D.O.G. seal for Oreochromis niloticus farm on Federal Government Waters, BP.PD

Abstract

There is a growing concern in the consumer market about animal welfare. In response to these concerns, there has been increased pressure on the aquaculture industry to improve fish welfare. In aquaculture, especially in fish farms, daily handling can compromise welfare. Thus, the aim of this project is to create an animal welfare protocol for Brazilian tilapia based on the Welfare Quality® approach, proper a standardized assessment method that could be used to provide transparent information on tilapia welfare to all relevant stakeholders in the Brazilian industry. The protocol will be elaborated based on the Welfare Quality approach, consisting of 4 main principles of animal welfare: good feeding, good housing, good health, and appropriate behavior. These principles will be subdivided into independent criteria based on the literature on-farm welfare assessment protocols and fish protocols adapted for tilapia. The protocol will be elaborated under the assistance of the supervisor, Dr. Antoni Daumal, who is a known expert in animal welfare. This internship opportunity allows the establishment of an international partnership with Dr. Daumal and will improve the scientific perspective and the network of the researcher. Also, the researcher will have the knowledge of a new technique and the application of tilapia welfare protocols will bring innovation to the candidate's postdoc project. (AU)