Improving slaughter of fish, decapods and cephalopods in practice

Billions of aquatic animals are killed annually for food, many by potentially-inhumane methods. Yet science so far indicates they may be capable of suffering. To improve aquatic animal welfare in practice, we must understand their physiological, behavioural and neurological idiosyncrasies, to tailor slaughtering systems to suit and be commercially viable. Similarly, legislative changes typically require extensive, robust scientific evidence. After receiving a generous donation, in 2019 the HSA awarded £1.93 million towards improving the understanding of states of consciousness, and the welfare at slaughter, of farmed finfish and of farmed or wild-caught decapod crustaceans (crabs, lobsters) and coleoid cephalopod molluscs (cuttlefish, octopus, squid). In 2020 the HSA awarded an additional £166,000 towards identifying priorities for improving the welfare of wild finfish when caught for consumption. Informing consumers of assurance schemes for aquatic animals, helps to promote more humane food choices.

How we can start helping fish?

Succeeding in fish welfare changes in Lithuania

Three supermarkets in Lithuania made commitments to stop selling live fish from 2021. Three different stories because of the relationships we had before. Why is it important to build a long lasting partnerships with businesses instead of becoming enemies for them?

Meda has learnt that meeting companies and introducing herself is the very first step we could all take if we want to get more victories for animals in the long term (even if it’s something you want to do for fish welfare, which is the more neglected farmed animal than others). She is very pro-positive campaigning since the live fish campaign evolved. Let’s talk why.

Recent progress in the welfare of crabs, lobsters, and other decapods, in the food industry

This talk will discuss recent progress in decapod crustacean welfare with a focus on the food industry. The talk will explore an array of factors that influence how decapods are viewed, handled, and slaughtered. This includes how scientific evidence contributes to consideration of decapods as a sentient species, how science and public pressure are working to gain political attention, and how this could lead to important changes in industry processes. It will conclude by reflecting on the future of decapod welfare, and what work remains to ensure decapods are treated humanely.

Octopus farming

Octopuses are marine, cephalopod molluscs, easily identified by their eight arms. Octopuses fisheries have increased substantially over the past 50 years. Given the growing demand, the aquaculture of Octopuses for human consumption was considered as a candidate for industrial culture. Significant attempts to farm Octopuses are now underway despite the fact that has the same damaging environmental consequences as other types of carnivorous aquaculture: Octopus farming would increase, not alleviate, pressure on wild-caught fisheries.

Octopuses exhibit cognitive and behavioural complexity, and they appear capable of experiencing pain and suffering. Existing evidence suggests that Octopus intensive farming systems are likely to be associated with high mortality rates and increased aggression and parasitic infection. Also, Octopuses are likely to want high levels of cognitive stimulation, as well as opportunities to explore, manipulate, and control their environment. Intensive farm systems are inevitably hostile to these attributes.

Aquatic animal numbers and their implications

In this talk I will present many graphs that compare animal numbers and talk about how those numbers might influence priorities for animal advocates. I will also make some arguments why we might consider focusing on some animal groups that are rarely discussed amongst animal advocates: fish farmed for bait, fish farmed to be released into the wild, and farmed insects.

Wild Fish - Capture, Loading, Storage and Slaughter

At present the focus in fisheries is on ecological sustainability. Attention for welfare of fish in fisheries is a challenge with regard to for instance the diversity fish species captured and technologies used by fishermen.

To capture fish, various types of fishing gears are used, e.g. trawls, purse seines and traps. Each of these gear types is used in a specific way related to the targeted fish species and their habitats. The impact on fish welfare differs e.g. per gear type, targeted fish species and the season(s) during which fishing takes place. A change of season may also influence the impact on welfare, as its change can have a profound effect on the physiological status of fish.

Subsequently, the fish are retrieved from the fishing gear. In case of for instance capture of bottom-dwelling fish species, the speed of the ascent and the fishing depth both have an impact on the welfare of fish caught. The speed of ascent usually exceeds the capacity of the fish to adapt to this change. Consequently, the rapid reduction in hydrostatic pressure can cause injury and stress in fish and other species caught. In case a trawl net is used, the loading process, which brings the catch on board of a vessel, comprises either pumping fish from the codend or using a codend lift. During loading stress and injury in fish are likely to occur.

Prior to slaughter the catch is stored temporarily in a container with little water or with water without aeration. An exception is capture-based aquaculture of cod. Here, the fish are stored in well-aerated water to keep them alive on board for feeding and live storage in sea cages. Storage in well-aerated water on board prevents hypoxia in fish.

Methods currently used on board of fishing vessels for slaughtering do not render fish unconscious without avoidable or minimal stress prior to killing them. These methods have a severe impact on the welfare of these animals.

Due to the nature of the processes and methods used by fishermen, in fisheries the focus can only be on protection of fish. i.e. to reduce or minimize stress and injury and the number of individuals affected. Clearly, it is a challenge to achieve this aim. This aim can only be achieved in steps in which fishermen, researchers and other stakeholders collaborate in an constructive manner.