freeline-96 - Flipbook - Page 163
concentrations in the range of the domesticated carp, most wild
carp had substantially higher scale cortisol - in some cases,
well over ten times the cortisol concentration. So, despite their
regular angling exploitation, the domesticated carp had much
lower levels of chronic stress than those in the wild.
The authors believe these differences in stress resilience relate
to the domestication of carp producing strains with traits that
include resilience to chronic stressors, coupled with their
presence in fisheries where there is an abundance of food
available from angling baits. The wild carp might also be more
active, for example through searching for food, which could
elevate their general cortisol levels.
Professor Britton commented “Our results suggest that the fish
that we considered could be most vulnerable to chronic stress
from angling could instead be the most stress resilient. This
is reassuring that fish welfare in fisheries based on hatcheryreared fish might not be compromised by their regular angling
capture.”
Co-author Dr Josephine Pegg of the South African Institute for
Aquatic Biodiversity commented “Recreational fisheries provide
significant socioeconomic value worldwide, but it’s important
to recognise that the animals at the heart of these systems also
deserve consideration and care. I’m pleased this work helps
advance our understandings around the welfare of fish used in
angling”.
However, the authors caution that despite the apparent resilience
of their fish to chromic stress, fishery managers should continue
to apply a range of welfare metrics to safeguard their fish,
including monitoring disease levels and water quality, especially
during the current period of warm weather.
