Ron Oldfield, faculty member in the Biology department, was recently interviewed for the internet blog ‘The Cichlid Stage’, dedicated to the diverse family of freshwater fish. Here Ron discusses his research into fish welfare, which he has been working on for over 20 years including the study of several cichlid species.

The term “animal welfare” describes how well an animal is doing, and it usually applies to animals that are maintained in captivity by humans. It describes more than just the physical health of the animal and includes its mental and emotional states, or how the animal feels. Although the term technically includes physical health, when people use the term they usually use it specifically to refer to the mental and emotional aspects. For an animal to live its best life, for it to fulfill its innate capabilities, it needs the freedom to roam, to forage, to compete, to seek seclusion or the company of others, and to make choices.

Read the full interview on The Cichlid Stage HERE.

Ron Oldfield holding a fish while speaking.