Introduction
The
issue of fish welfare has become increasingly important in the United States and
other countries. The impact of human activities on fish welfare are not just in
biomedical and other laboratory research, but also in aquaculture, fisheries,
angling, and public display.
The
production of a fish welfare information resource at this moment in history is
particularly appropriate, since fish welfare issues are being debated worldwide and are frequently
discussed by scientists not working in fish related fields, by the media, and by
the press. This subject is being
discussed related to angling, aquaculture, general neurophysiology, fisheries,
biomedical laboratory research, aquariums, and regulation.
In
accordance with the United States Animal Welfare Act, the use of alternative
lower phyla animals, including fish, in research that would otherwise use
mammalian species, is encouraged.
Numerous species of fish are increasingly being used as biomedical models
in comparative genomics, gene expression, transgenesis, carcinogenesis,
toxicology, pharmacology, infectious disease, neurology, and aging research, as
well as in aquaculture and fisheries related research. And in turn, all of the research
conducted in these areas increase the knowledge base on the care and use of
these fish species in aquaculture, fisheries, and the laboratory.
To date, fish and other cold-blooded animals are not covered by the 1985
Amendments to the United States Animal Welfare Act. But, different funding agencies, such as
USDA, the National Institutes of Heath and the Public Health Service require
adherence to additional guides and policies. In addition, there are the federally
mandated “institutional care and use committees” (IACUC) which review animal use
projects so that projects using animals are possible.
All
of the different rules and guidelines can be confusing to anyone conducting
research with fish or on fish. But,
because of the very considerable range of adaptive diversity and husbandry
requirements represented by the over 20,000 species of fishes, no concise or
specific compendium of approved methods and guidelines for fish research is
practical or desirable AFS Policy
Statements #16, DeTolla et al. 1995).
The Information Resources on Fish Welfare should assist
the many scientists, IACUC members, producers, administrators, legislators,
and regulatory agencies concerned with general fish welfare and well- being.
This book also provides relevant information to those in the general
public who benefit from fish related biomedical research, who consume aquaculture
or fisheries products, engage in recreational fisheries, keep aquariums or
visit aquatic animal displays, as well as those belonging to organizations
concerned with animal welfare.
The Information Resources on Fish Welfare will thus serve
as an essential comprehensive resource and reference book for a very broad
audience, and its Editor is to be congratulated on undertaking the task of
producing this unique document. All
who read this book should find it useful to guide them in preparing and following
appropriate procedures for the care and use of fish.
Meryl C. Broussard, Chair
Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
United States Department of Agriculture
References:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/Fishwelfare/AFS16.pdf
http://dels-old.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarjournal/37_4/37_4Guidelines.shtml