Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues
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CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE CARE AND HANDLING OF FARMED SALMONIDS: REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON PRIORITY ISSUES September 2020 Farmed Salmonids Code of Practice Scientific Committee Richard D. Moccia, MSc (Co-Chair) Professor Department of Animal Biosciences Aquaculture Centre University of Guelph David Scarfe, PhD, DVM, MRSSAf, CertAqV (Co-Chair) Extraordinary Professor Faculty of Veterinary Sciences University of Pretoria & Aquatic Veterinary Associates International, LLC James Duston, PhD Professor Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture Dalhousie University E. Don Stevens, PhD Adjunct Professor Department of Biomedical Sciences University of Prince Edward Island J. Michelle Lavery, MSc PhD Candidate Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Barry Milligan, MSc, DVM (ex-officio) Code Development Committee Chair Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farmed Salmonids: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues Sept 2020 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was a significant undertaking that benefited from the help and guidance of several people. The Scientific Committee wishes to thank Dr. Barry Milligan (Code Committee Chair) for his invaluable expertise throughout the development of this report and Caroline Ramsay (Code Manager) for her enduring support and critical feedback. Sincere gratitude is also extended to Dr. Mark Fast (Associate Professor, University of Prince Edward Island) for his significant contributions as a co-author of Section 3: Sea Lice: Infection and Treatment. The authors appreciate the contributions of the three anonymous peer reviewers, whose comments greatly improved the quality of this report, and extend their gratitude to Dr. Patricia V. Turner (Professor Emerita, University of Guelph), who coordinated the peer review process. Funding for this project was provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal–provincial–territorial initiative. ii Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farmed Salmonids: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues Sept 2020 Excerpt from Scientific Committee Terms of Reference Background It is widely accepted that animal welfare codes, guidelines, standards or legislation should take advantage of the best available knowledge. This knowledge is often generated from the scientific literature. In re-establishing a Code of Practice development process, NFACC recognized the need for a more formal means of integrating scientific input into the Code of Practice process. A Scientific Committee review of priority animal welfare issues for the species being addressed will provide valuable information to the Code Development Committee in developing or revising a Code of Practice. As the Scientific Committee report is publicly available, the transparency and credibility of the Code is enhanced. For each Code of Practice being developed or revised, NFACC will identify a Scientific Committee. This committee will consist of a target number of 6 scientists familiar with research on the care and management of the animals under consideration. NFACC will request nominations from 1) Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, 2) Canadian Society of Animal Science, and 3) Canadian Chapter of the International Society for Applied Ethology. At least one representative from each of these professional scientific bodies will be named to the Scientific Committee. Other professional scientific organizations as appropriate may also serve on the Scientific Committee. Purpose & Goals The Scientific Committee will develop a report synthesizing the results of research relating to key animal welfare issues, as identified by the Scientific Committee and the Code Development Committee. The report will be used by the Code Development Committee in drafting a Code of Practice for the species in question. The Scientific Committee report will not contain recommendations following from any research results. Its purpose is to present a compilation of the scientific findings without bias. The full Terms of Reference for the Scientific Committee can be found within the NFACC Development Process for Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals, available at www.nfacc.ca/code-development-process#appendixc. iii Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farmed Salmonids: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues Sept 2020 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE CARE AND HANDLING OF FARMED SALMONIDS: REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON PRIORITY ISSUES Farmed Salmonids Code of Practice Scientific Committee Report September 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 The Question of Fish Sentience and Why It Matters ..........................................................1 1.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Other Minds ...............................................................................................................2 1.2 Relevance of Sentience to Welfare .......................................................................................2 1.3 The State of the Literature ....................................................................................................2 1.3.1 Nociception ................................................................................................................2 1.3.2 Arguments against Fish Sentience .............................................................................3 1.3.3 Arguments for Fish Sentience ....................................................................................3 1.3.4 Theoretical Considerations ........................................................................................4 1.4 What to Do? ..........................................................................................................................5 1.4.1 The Conundrum .........................................................................................................5 1.4.2 The Precautionary Principle .......................................................................................5 1.5 The Scientific Committee’s Position ....................................................................................6 1.6 References .............................................................................................................................6 2 Stress Indicators ...................................................................................................................11 2.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................11 2.2 The Stress Response ...........................................................................................................11 2.3 Categories of Stress Indicators............................................................................................12 2.4 Stressful Procedures ............................................................................................................13 2.4.1 Stress During Transport ...........................................................................................13 2.4.2 Stress During Grading..............................................................................................13 2.5 Stress Indicators ..................................................................................................................13 2.5.1 Morphological Changes ...........................................................................................13 2.5.2 Behavioural Changes ...............................................................................................14 2.6 Caveats ................................................................................................................................15 2.7 References ...........................................................................................................................15 Figure 2.1 Primary, secondary, and tertiary responses of fish during distress. .............................19 3 Sea Lice: Infection and Treatment ......................................................................................20 3.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................20 3.2 Sea Lice Biology and Life Cycle ........................................................................................21 3.3 Impact of Sea Lice ..............................................................................................................22 3.4 Monitoring, Controlling, and Treating Sea Lice Infections ................................................22 iv Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farmed Salmonids: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues Sept 2020 3.4.1 Monitoring Sea Lice Infections ...............................................................................22 3.4.2 Chemical Sea Lice Treatment ..................................................................................23 3.4.3 Mechanical Sea Lice Barriers and Removal Methods .............................................24 3.4.4 Biological Control Using Cleaner Fish ....................................................................25 3.4.5 Other/Emerging Lice Control Approaches ..............................................................26 3.5 References ...........................................................................................................................27