Sea bream interactions toward the aquaculture net due to the presence of micro-fouling

The technology of floating sea cages that is largely used in the Mediterranean aquaculture provides optimal conditions for the development of marine fouling. The present study investigates the influence of micro-fouling developed on a net, on sea bream behavior. Negative effects of biofouling were not tested since the study was performed under laboratory conditions and for short experimental period. The net condition (micro-fouling filaments) is further examined in comparison with a similar green–brown colored and a white net pen. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that micro-fouling filaments highly induce net biting. In contrast, the colored net tested in this study negatively affected sea bream interactions on the net. Results lead to the conclusion that the fouling filaments are more important to sea bream attraction than the net color, while both variables affect species behavior.