Announcing: Operational Welfare Indicator Guidance for Rainbow Trout, Sea Bream, and Sea Bass

The Centre for Aquaculture Progress is developing comprehensive Operational Welfare Indicator (OWI) guidance for three key European aquaculture species: rainbow trout, sea bream, and sea bass. These protocols will cover both juvenile and adult life stages, and are designed to align with certification requirements.

What are Operational Welfare Indicators?

OWIs are practical, farm-level tools that enable producers to systematically monitor and assess fish welfare. The Centre for Aquaculture Progress OWI guidance will provide specific, measurable indicators with clear thresholds, ranging from "Ideal," "Acceptable," "Warning," and "Unacceptable," allowing producers to gain a holistic understanding of welfare and identify welfare concerns early.

What the guidance will include:

Our species-specific protocols will provide:

• Clear scoring frameworks with evidence-based thresholds
• Visual references to support consistent assessment
• Key and support evidence to explain the rationale behind the scoring thresholds

The rainbow trout guidance is currently in development, with sea bream and sea bass protocols to follow. Each protocol is designed to be practical for on-farm use while maintaining scientific rigor.

Stay informed

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For questions about the OWI guidance or CAP's work, contact us at info@centreforaquacultureprogress.org.