Reared to become wild-like: addressing behavioral and cognitive deficits in cultured aquatic animals destined for stocking into natural environments—a critical review

Hatchery-reared aquatic animals tend to perform worse in natural environments than wild conspecifics. This was pointed out over a century ago and while there are many possible causes, one persistent observation is that unnatural rearing cause behavioral expressions unsuitable for life the wild. Behavioral traits being adaptive barren, food-rich, predator-free hatchery tanks likely differ from those nature. More recently, suspicions of cognitive deficiencies due sensory deprivation have also been raised. Over last few decades, substantial research has devoted produce more wild-like phenotypes reared stocking. includes life- skills training programs, where learn cope with important features environment (e. g., live food predation risk), environmental modifications aimed at stimulating formation adequate enrichment reduction number individuals per tank). The main purpose this paper provide summary current state-of-knowledge interventions ameliorating Furthermore, it aims foundation assist development future questions, hypotheses, experiments eventually improve postrelease performance these animals.