A study on the assessment of fish walfare in aquaculture: An example of rainbow trout

Currently, animal welfare practices are needed both for the animal being raised, for ethical values, and to obtain high nutritional yields. This study was conducted to evaluate rainbow trout enterprises in terms of fish welfare. For this purpose, a survey was conducted to determine the status of trout enterprises. Considering the general functioning of enterprises and their responses to fish welfare in the survey Dec 52% of the 23 enterprises surveyed ignore fish welfare while 48% take it into account. 83% of enterprises stated that they have the potential to ensure fish welfare, while 17% stated that they do not have this potential. For the possibility of improving farm conditions, 23% indicated a high potential, while 32% indicated a low potential. Considering these results, it is seen that aquaculture enterprises in our country do not have the facilities, support and knowledge to make applications for fish welfare. Aquaculture, which is considered a commercial sector, is expected that fish welfare will become more widespread with the awareness of both producers and consumers with government support and extensive research on this issue.