Is It Possible to ‘Enrich’ Marine Animal Captivity?
In many ways, fish are some of the most maligned and misunderstood species on the planet. Many people don’t consider them to be sentient, yet research has shown that fish are sentient beings with rich emotional lives. They are complex species that experience pain and pleasure, and their lives are cataloged in long-term memories. This valuable scientific evidence should impact how we treat aquatic animals when it comes to ensuring their welfare. Following on from this knowledge, this article looks at the subject of marine animal captivity from the perspective of “enrichment” – a topic more often associated with land animals.
The aim of providing enrichment for fish is along the same vein as that of other animals – to create living environments with topographies that support natural fish behavior, decrease stress, and reduce boredom. However, providing suitable enrichment for fish can seem more complicated, as we understand very little about how to recognize stress and pain in fish. Though enrichment is “not a new concept,” this study shows that fish can benefit from it in the same way as other captive animals. However, with home ranges that can stretch over vast waters, some animal advocates would prefer to think of how the captivity of fish can be eliminated, rather than enriched.