Use of telemetry sensors as a tool for health/welfare monitoring of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in aquaculture

Swimming activity is essential for fishes to perform behaviors, such as feeding, migration or reproduction. Energetic costs related to swimming activity may be inferred by measuring aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, which is of interest for both conservation and aquaculture purpose. However, such measurements in free-swimming fish are not easily applicable in the field, therefore the use of remote sensors from telemetry field could offer promising tools to counter these limitations. In this work, we calibrated accelerometer sensors with the oxygen consumption rate (MO2) and the activity of white and red muscle during swimming in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a key marine species of European aquaculture. We then provided insights of the fish physiological stress profile and growth rate following the implantation of such sensors. We finally showed some examples of how these sensors may be useful to monitor fish response to rearing conditions, including high stocking density and diet regimes. Altogether, this paper provides support to use the telemetry sensors as valuable tools for monitoring health and welfare of European sea bass in aquaculture conditions.