Skeletal quality assessment of reared and wild sharpsnout sea bream and pandora juveniles

In this study, skeletal descriptors of wild and reared juveniles of sharpsnout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo) and pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) were compared to assess the quality of farmed individuals. A total of 1016 wild and reared juveniles of sharpsnout sea bream and pandora were inspected for skeletal abnormalities and a qualitative evaluation of aquaculture production was achieved. The applied approach was based on the analysis of meristic character counts, and incidence and pattern of skeletal anomalies. Correspondence Analysis (CA), Multi-Response Permutation Procedure (MRPP) and Indicator Species Analysis were performed on a data matrix. Such methodology allowed the identification of different levels of disturbance generated by the captive conditions.