Table 1 Results of the questionnaire issued to 19 European facilities that keep bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Ordering and purchasing

Number of fish species ordered

2–4

7

37

5–6

11

58

>6

1

5

Fish species fed

Herring

16

^a

Squid

16

Capelin

16

Sprat

13

Mackerel

11

Fish history checked

Yes

14

74

No

5

26

Fish wholesaler used

Wholesaler A

10

53

Wholesaler B

4

21

Fish freezing method

Block frozen

19

Individually frozen

3

Fish block size

1–10 kg

7

10.1–20 kg

14

20.1–40 kg

11

Shipment inspection

Documentation

13

Sings of thawing

14

Temperature

10

Manually for firmness

11

Storing and thawing

Nutritional analysis conducted

With every shipment

15

79

Every 3 months

4

21

Vitamin analysis conducted

0

0

Storage time

1–2 months

4

21

3–6 months

10

53

7–12 months

5

26

Handling thawed fish

Time before feeding

<24 h

18

95

24–48 h

1

5

Feeding

Fish preparation

Cutting

6

32

No cutting

13

68