CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of marine mammals Canadian Council on Animal Care Conseil canadien de protection des animaux © Canadian Council on Animal Care, 2014 ISBN: 978-0-919087-55-2 Canadian Council on Animal Care 190 O’Connor St., Suite 800 Ottawa ON K2P 2R3 http://www.ccac.ca Acknowledgements This document, the CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of marine mammals, has been developed by the ad hoc subcommittee on marine mammals of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Standards Committee. Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust, University of Prince Edward Island Mr. John Ford, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Mr. Henrik Kreiberg, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Dr. Clément Lanthier, Calgary Zoo Dr. Kay Mehren, Veterinarian Emeritus, Toronto Zoo Ms. Tracy Stewart, Marineland of Canada Mr. Clint Wright, Vancouver Aquarium Dr. Gilly Griffin, Canadian Council on Animal Care We would like to take this opportunity to recognize the dedication and vision of Dr. Jon Lien (Memorial University, deceased 2010), the Committee’s first Chair. Jon played a pivotal role in the creation of this document. His vision became a collective goal - to improve the quality of life for all marine mammals held in captivity. This document lives on as a legacy to his vision and leadership. Lastly, the CCAC extends its gratitude to the many other volunteers, organizations and associations that provided review of this guidelines document. We especially acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Neal Overstrom and Mr. Bob van Tongerloo, who provided important assistance in developing early drafts. Dr. Mark Torchia Chair of the CCAC Board of Directors Table of Contents tABle oF contents 1. PReFAce ..................................................................................................................1 sUmmARY oF tHe gUIdelInes lIsted In tHIs docUment .................................3 2. GeneRAl consIdeRAtIons ..............................................................................12 2.1 Applicability .............................................................................................................................................12 2.2 Definition of Institutions, Facilities and Enclosures .......................................................................12 2.3 Ethics ..........................................................................................................................................................12 2.4 Responsibilities........................................................................................................................................13 2.4.1 Responsibilities of the animal care committee ......................................................................13 2.4.2 Responsibilities of the institution and facility management ...............................................14 2.4.3 Responsibilities of the veterinarian .........................................................................................15 2.4.4 Responsibilities of animal care staff ........................................................................................16 2.4.5 Responsibilities of investigators ..............................................................................................16 3.A F cIlItIes ..............................................................................................................17 3.1 New Facilities ...........................................................................................................................................17 3.1.1 Open ocean enclosures .............................................................................................................17 3.2 Enclosure Design .....................................................................................................................................17 3.2.1 Spatial requirements of enclosures .........................................................................................18 3.2.2 Haul-outs ....................................................................................................................................20 3.2.3 Acoustics ....................................................................................................................................20 3.2.4 Lighting .......................................................................................................................................20 3.2.5 Structural considerations ..........................................................................................................21 3.2.6 Surfaces and finishes .................................................................................................................21 3.2.7 Drainage ......................................................................................................................................22 3.2.8 Nets and gates ............................................................................................................................22 3.2.9 Power supply ..............................................................................................................................23 3.2.10 Landscaping ...............................................................................................................................23 3.3 Water ...........................................................................................................................................................23 3.3.1 Water supply ..............................................................................................................................23 3.3.2 Water circulation and hydrodynamics ...................................................................................24 3.3.3 Water systems and processing .................................................................................................24 3.3.4 Water filtration ...........................................................................................................................25 3.3.5 Water treatment .........................................................................................................................25 3.4 Support Facilities .....................................................................................................................................26 CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of marine mammals i Table of Contents 3.5 Animal Surgery / Veterinary Facilities ................................................................................................27 3.6 Security ......................................................................................................................................................27 4.A F cIlItY mAnAgement, oPeRAtIon And mAIntenAnce ...........................28 4.1 Facility Records ........................................................................................................................................28 4.2 Environmental Control and Monitoring .............................................................................................28 4.2.1 Water quality ..............................................................................................................................28 4.2.2 pH ................................................................................................................................................29 4.2.3 Salinity .........................................................................................................................................29 4.2.4 Micro-organisms ........................................................................................................................29 4.2.5 Temperature and humidity ......................................................................................................30 4.2.6 Weather conditions ....................................................................................................................30 4.2.7 Air quality ...................................................................................................................................31 4.2.8 Sound ...........................................................................................................................................31 4.3 Facility Maintenance ...............................................................................................................................31 4.3.1 Enclosure maintenance and sanitation ...................................................................................31 4.3.2 Food preparation area sanitation ............................................................................................32 4.4 Nuisance Animals ....................................................................................................................................32 4.5 Waste Handling ........................................................................................................................................32 4.6 Machinery, Equipment and Maintenance ...........................................................................................32 4.7 Chemicals and Biocontaminants ..........................................................................................................33 4.8 Access .........................................................................................................................................................33 4.9 Emergency and Contingency Plans ......................................................................................................33