Behavioral responses of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, fingerlings under the influence of an electromagnetic field

Abstract The advent of wind farming as a renewable energy source necessitates assessment of the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on fish, especially when done in conjunction with aquaculture. In this study, we investigated the effects of an EMF on the behavior of European sea bass fingerlings. A T-maze apparatus was used to record the behavior of the fish with and without the presence of a static EMF of 10 mT and subsequently, several behavioral metrics were analyzed using specialized software. Our results suggest that E. sea bass can perceive magnetic fields. Compared to the control group, fish exposed to the EMF showed reduced exploratory behavior with longer periods of immobility, traveled a shorter total distance, and exhibited freezing behavior at an increased frequency. In addition, fish showed a preference for the geomagnetic south. The findings offer valuable contributions to our understanding of EMF effects on fish, which in turn may be useful in shaping the future of fish farming in conjunction with energy production .