Multiparametric Semi-quantitative Scoring System for the histological evaluation of marine fish larval and juvenile quality

Gilthead seabream (GSB - Sparus aurata) and European seabass (ESB - Dicentrarchus labrax) are two of the most farmed fish species in EU. However, production of sea bream/bass in the EU has remained stagnant for the last decade and the Mediterranean EU aquaculture faces significant sustainability challenges. In consideration of this, and as it is largely recognized that the success of marine aquaculture strictly depends on the production of good quality larvae/juveniles, in this paper the authors put forward an original standardized tool for the histological assessment of GSB and ESB larva/juveniles. This tool promptly allows to highlight problems in marine fish larval batches because of managerial practices, suggesting to fish farmers which direction take to resolve them. A Multiparametric Semi-quantitative Scoring System (scoring range 1–5) has been originally developed for larval/juvenile histological evaluation and it includes 18 descriptors related to 6 organ districts. The values of each descriptor can be summarized in two indexes: the CHI (Cumulative Histological Index), giving general information about the quality of a fish batch in that precise moment and the OCV (Organ condition value) showing the general condition of each organ and by the individual descriptors. The paper purposes are to describe the MSSS, the criteria established for the score attribution and to supply some indications for the use of the tool.