Abnormalities of shape or color and bony I body deformities whether related to lack of
swimbladder or not, are still a major problem for many Mediterranean finfish sea farms.
Despite their high economical consequences, they remain difficult to eliminate, due to basic
gaps of knowledge about their causes and sometimes management errors in the rearing
technique.
After a review of abnormalities in aquaculture, the authors targeted the mechanisms of their
apparition and aimed to the main gaps of knowledge and the possible solutions. Until accurate
cost effective conditions for prevention are found, strategies of early assessment and sorting
are recommended. The role of the EU research in these actions is emphasized
