Fish welfare

Question 1

Why is fish welfare important?

Answer 1

Leads to less stress and disease susceptibility
Less requirement for treatment/medicine
Better growth rates and food production
Better quality product produced

Question 2

Do fish feel pain?

Answer 2

They experience nociception - physical response to pain due to impulse from skin receptor to CNS
Exhibit pain behaviour
* Emotional fever response - stress induced hyperthermia

Question 3

Do fish feel pain?

Answer 3

They experience nociception - physical response to pain due to impulse from skin receptor to CNS
Exhibit pain behaviour
* Emotional fever response - stress induced hyperthermia

Question 4

What is an OWI?

Answer 4

Operational Welfare Indicator
* Observable parameter to assess fish welfare

Question 5

Categories of operational welfare indicators

Answer 5

Direct
* Individual
* Group based
Indirect

Question 6

What is an Indirect OWI

Answer 6

Environmental parameter which influences welfare

Question 7

Examples of indirect OWIs

Answer 7

Water quaility
* Temperature
* Turbidity
* pH
* Oxygenation
* Salinity
* nitrites
Lighting
Feed quality/load
Stocking density
Tank/filter microbiome

Question 8

What is a direct OWI

Answer 8

Measurable behavioural, physical or physiological change

Question 9

Examples of direct group-based OWIs

Answer 9

Mortality
Behaviour
Presence of scales/blood in tank
Growth/presence of emaciated fish
Appetite
Discolouration
Presence of disease