This paper confines itself to the study of pain in fish farmed through aquaculture and its alleviation. Welfare concerns the physical and mental state of the animal (Lembo & Zupa 2009). It involves the animal’s physiological and psychological capability to cope with its environment (Lembo & Zupa 2009). Under the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, an animal is entitled to be free of pain, injury and disease (Lembo & Zupa 2009). This paper concerns the optimal slaughter method given that the fish is capable of experiencing pain. The paper discusses the issue of whether fish experience pain. The paper then discusses the growth of the sector and the inhuman methods of slaughtering fish. The human alternative of electrical stunning and killing of fish is then discussed with its advantages and potential problems. Using fish behaviour, the use of electrical stunning and killing of fish will be evaluated for the farming of barramundi.
Animal welfare is a complex issue that includes freedom from pain (Ashley 2006). Pain as an element of animal welfare involves understanding the subjective experience of an animal, in this case, fish (Ashley 2006). Fish are traditionally viewed as not having the capability to experience pain (Ashley 2006; Rose 2002). This position has been challenged by other researchers who claim that fish experience nociception and therefore are capable of experiencing pain (Braithwaite & Huntingford 2004; Dunlop & Laming 2005; Sneddon 2003). The possession of an opioid system in fish is strong evidence that they feel pain (Posner 2009). Given that it seems apparent that fish do feel pain, their welfare is important.
Aquaculture is an expanding industry showing strong growth of 6.2% per annum with 52.5 million tonnes of f...
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Rose, JD 2002, ‘The neurobehavioral nature of fishes and the question of awareness and pain’, Reviews in Fisheries Science, vol. 10, pp. 1 – 38.
Schipp, G, Bosmans, J & Humphrey, J 2007, Northern Territory Barramundi Farming Handbook, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Darwin.
Sneddon, LU 2003, ‘The evidence for pain in fish: the use of morphine as an analgesic’, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. 153 – 162.
Stevenson, P 2007, Closed Waters: the welfare of farmed Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Atlantic Cod and Atlantic Halibut, Compassion in World Farming, Surrey.
Wilkinson, RJ, Paton, N and Porter, MJR 2008, ‘The effects of pre-harvest stress and harvest method on the stress response, rigor onset, muscle pH and drip loss in barramundi (Latescalcarifer)’, Aquaculture, vol. 282, pp. 26 – 32.
A defining feature of the lionfish which everyone sees are the “18 venomous spines on its dorsal fin and its pelvic and anal fins, which are used for defense” as described in FACE OFF WITH THE ENEMY: LIONFISH by Special To The Citizen. Which is a neurotoxin that results in intense pain and swelling of one’s body. Fernando Simal, a marine hunter at STINAPA National Marine Park, found out the potency of their venom after his first hunt when being stung by the lionfish he caug...
Larabee, John, and Richard Price. "Tide of Troubles has Fish Industry Reeling/ Crisis Caused by Pollution, Development, Over-Fishing." USA Today 10 Mar. 1994: 9A
...s to remove the selfish entertainment from nature and focus instead on its intrinsic value. This in situ approach to conservation of cod, although seemingly surface level transcends the boundaries of economic, cultural, or any of such approximations and places the value on the existence of the species. Another projected solution for the crisis of the overexploitation of fish is the institution of moratoria, which establish that a certain species can no longer be hunted or fished in this context. This in situ attempt at regulating the consumption of cod allows the cod for time to replenish themselves and their populations. Yet, this type of regulation suggests that all humankind must do is step back and let for the problem to take care of itself, and as has been proven several times before stepping back and letting things resolve themselves do not end accordingly
The major thing about Mr. Wallace’s article is his concern about suffering of Lobster which he briefly explain the facts, he’s article feature the Maine Lobster Festival in Maine which the festival will cook 25,000 pound of lobsters, the World Largest Lobster Cooker as they call it, lobster will be cook in a gruesome way which he is concerned. Mr. Wallace characterized the lobster that boiling them is really hard for him to watch. Example is in his article he said that “Lobster looks like they are suffering as they hang their claws in the pot”. But this explains why the violent reaction of lobsters to boiling water is a reflex to noxious stimuli. And to add, Based on review by the Scottish animal welfare group Advocate for Animals released reported, a scientific evidence that strongly suggests that there is a potential for lobsters to experience pain and suffering. This is primarily because lobsters and other decapod crustaceans have opioid receptors and respond to opioids analgesics such as morphine in a similar way to vertebrates, indicating that lobsters' reaction to injury changes when painkillers are applied. The similariti...
Accoring to “Overfishing of Blue fin Tuna: Incentivizing Inclusive Solutions,” it is estimated that 53% of tuna is exploited, while Blue fin Tuna have shown a significant decrease in the stock of reproductive Blue fin tuna by 80% since 1972 (Boon 1). By these statistics, it is clearly shown how much we take them for granted. Originally, Blue fin tuna were considered an inexhaustible food supply. However, as time has shown that ignorance really is bliss. If we stop and think of alternatives on how to save the Blue fin tuna population, we would be able to preserve the species for later generations to come.
Rubenstein, D.I., and Hazlett, B.A. (1974) Examination of the Agonistic Behaviour of the Crayfish Orconectes virilis by Character Analysis. Behaviour. 50:193-216.
Burford, Mahalia. "Response to Blackfish: A Case for SeaWorld." Journal of Law and Public Policy. N.p., 6 Nov. 2013. Web. 28 Dec. 2014. .
“Taxonomically speaking, a lobster is a marine crustacean of the family Homaridae, characterized by five pairs of jointed legs, the first pair terminating in large pincerish claws used for subduing prey…. Moreover, a crustacean is an aquatic arthropod of the class Crustacea, which comprises of crabs, shrimp, barnacles, lobsters, and freshwater crayfish” (Wallace, 55). This is an example of Logos since the author uses scientific facts to convey the message he wants to communicate in an objective way. Wallace also uses logos as a persuasive device by presenting facts on the science of the lobster’s neurological system and its ability to feel pain. The Maine Lobster Promotion Council states “The nervous system of a lobster is very simple, and is in fact most similar to the nervous system of a grasshopper. It is decentralized with no brain. There is no cerebral cortex, which in humans is the area of the brain that gives the experience of pain”. Wallace counter-argues this statement by mentioning the fact that since lobsters have a simpler nervous system compared to humans, they are unable to produce their own natural opiates. “One can conclude that lobsters are maybe even more vulnerable to pain, since they lack mammalian nervous systems’ built-in analgesia, or, instead, that the absence of natural opioids implies an absence of the really intense
The Bluefin tuna, Thunnus Thynnus, is a top predator of the oceans, and the most valuable fish in the world. David Attenborough once called it a “superfish”. Despite its Darwinian advantages commercial fisheries have exploited Bluefin for decades, and the population has fallen to an estimated 36% of its already depleted 1970 level1. Originally, fish were caught by rod and reel, one by one. During the 1980s commercial fisheries developed techniques, such as the use of long lines, drift nets and purse seines to catch thousands of these animals at a time. These techniques have obliterated the population of Bluefin in just a few decades. They also wreak havoc on the ocean killing millions of sea turtles, sharks, whales, dolphins- pretty much every living creature they come across. In 2007 the WWF warned of the imminent collapse of the Mediterranean population, in their article “Bluefin Tuna in Crisis”. However, this has not reduced the efforts of fisheries to catch these majestic creatures; with more boats chasing fewer and fewer fish, the species is being driven towards extinction. This common is being overused and could tragically disappear in the near future unless drastic changes are made. Both fishermen and consumers, as well as everyone who is affiliated with nature to some degree will be affected. The responsibility to prevent this tragedy is everyone’s, but business should lead the way in making commercial Bluefin fishing sustainable. Otherwise our planet will begin to look similar to Old MacDonald’s farm.
There are many impacts that fishing and land animal farming have on the ocean, which are detrimental to ocean ecosystems as well as many other aspects of the environment. Overfishing, killing fish at a much quicker rate than the fish can repopulate, is one major problem. Three-fourths of the world’s fisheries are either fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted (Cowspiracy). Researchers have estimated an end of all viable fisheries by 2018 if the current trends of fishing continue (Mason). According to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch, hundreds of thousands of animals die every year as bycatch, with one of the worst offenders being shrimp fisheries, catching up to six pounds of bycatch per pound of shrimp. Endangered species are also caught, including predators which are important in keeping the balance in ocean ecosystems (Smith). While many organizations such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch recommend consumers to eat more “sustainable” fish, this will not stop the massive environmental impacts. Sustainable fishing for one does not account for the natural flux in the population of species of fish; what is considered a sustainable amount of fish to harvest one year may deplete the fishery in another year (Smith). Sustainable fish also are becoming even less sustainable as companies that label sustainable fish must find more For example, after Wal-Mart pledged to selling Marine Stewardship
In this paper, I am going to argue that Peter Singer is right to claim that human suffering and animal suffering should be given equal consideration. Even though animals are not intellectually or physically at the same level as us humans, they can still feel pain when hurt. (48)
Each year,millions of people across the world travel to marine parks, for the chance to see one of the most intelligent, fascinating beings of this Earth, the marine mammal. However, this aquarium is actually a torturous jail cell for the marine mammals that inhabit it. Research has shown that these animals were never fit for captivity. In fact, according to the popular documentary “Blackfish”, more than seventy trainers have been injured by the captive marine mammal, though not a single aggressive tendency toward humans has ever been documented to have occurred in the ocean. It is a likely assumption, that the conditions of marine parks are a cause for aggressive and depressive behaviors in these animals. These intelligent, highly evolved,
fish market (Punt, 2000). The numbers in sharks have decreased due to the unregulated fishing
If we give animals better treatment they will not be as stressed, and will be healthier mentally, and have a better chance of living longer and producing better products.“All animal species can suffer pain
As a matter of fact veterinarians were told to ignore the pan that they sensed in animals. This happened in the US, in 1989. This means that there were some veterinary hospitals that did not see the need to use analgesics in a bid to reduce and control the pain in animals. This caused scientists to embark on a special mission to establish whether animals feel pain. With advancement in technology it was easier to conduct this research, which was followed by many scientific publications. According to them, animals possess the ability to feel pain, as well as suffer. Although they may not share the anticipation that humans do before injury, they sure experience the pain after the injury. Also the research shows that animals have the ability to remember suffering. With this in mind, it is clear that animals have an existential need to avoid pain and suffering. From the argument that had been presented by Descartes, the only reason as to why he did not approve of animal rights was the fact that they did not have the ability to feel pain (Coster 36). Long after he was gone, it was established that they can suffer and feel pain. This makes Descartes an automatic supporter of animal rights, except that he did not live enough to know it. According to ethics, animal rights should be respected and adhered to, by anyone who understands